Both the Bishop Ludden and Solvay softball teams started the week with exciting victories.
The Gaelic Knights gave undefeated Hannibal its first defeat of the season, 3-1, while the Bearcats got a no-hitter from pitcher Gabrielle Nurod – and needed it to beat Cazenovia, 1-0, in 10 innings.
Every bit of Nurod’s talent was needed to match the work of Cazenovia’s Katie McLean. Throughout seven innings of regulation, as Nurod worked on her gem and gave up just two walks, McLean allowed eight hits, yet constantly worked her way out of jams to keep it 0-0.
The eighth and ninth innings went without a resolution, either. In the top of the 10th, international rules apply, which put a runner on second base to start the inning.
Nurod maintained her cool, keeping Cazenovia off the board. Then, in the bottom of the 10th, Solvay loaded the bases, moving Arianna Campagnone to third. Senior captain Chelsey Chavez-Egan’s single to the right side brought home Campagnone and ended the game.
As this was going on, used a first-inning rally to go in Hannibal Kibling’s tough pitching to stay there as it broke up the Warriors’ six-game win streak.
To give Kibling that early run support, Ludden got to Hannibal ace Marlena Shortslef for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, both coming when Beth Jerome doubled.
Aside from that, the Gaelic Knights earned just two hits off Shortslef. Still, Jerome’s double held up, as Kibling surrendered six hits and a sixth-inning run, but kept Hannibal in check.
Solvay gets its shot at Hannibal Wednesday, then meets Jordan-Elbridge on Friday. Ludden, ironically enough, gets to play at Cazenovia on that same Friday afternoon.
