Cazenovia’s softball team began its push through the final week of the regular season by jumping all over Hannibal last Monday afternoon, shutting out the Warriors 9-0.
Already ahead 1-0, the Lakers seized control by getting five runs off Hannibal pitcher Jami Keding in the bottom of the second inning.
Meanwhile, Meghan Kurucz continued her fine work, constantly pitching her way out of trouble as she maintained a shutout, despite allowing eight hits.
Belle Hoagland led the Lakers’ 11-hit attack with a double and two RBIs. Kara Stadler, Taylor Malmsheimer and Lindsay Easterly each drove in one run.
Two days later, at Marcellus, the Lakers looked to be in trouble, but made an inspiring comeback to beat the Mustangs 6-5 in eight innings.
Up 1-0 early, Cazenovia could not hold that advantage. Marcellus scored three times in the fourth inning and twice in the bottom of the fifth, seizing a 5-2 lead in the process.
Three outs from defeat, the Lakers kept itself going by getting three runs in the top of the seventh to force extra innings. Cazenovia then went in front in the top of the eighth with a single tally.
Kurucz, pitching in relief of Alyssa Boswell, got the final outs and earned the win. Lindsey Smith tripled and earned three RBIs, while Easterly and Korena Fenton also drove in runs and Abby Eschen added a triple, too.
The Lakers’ last activity prior to the playoffs came Friday, when a rough start proved costly in a 5-1 loss to Jordan-Elbridge at Veterans’ Park.
Boswell surrendered three runs in the first inning, and the Eagles would add single tallies in the second and third innings.
Though Boswell settled down, and Smith produced a third-inning RBI, Cazenovia (11-5, 10-3 league) would not catch up, as J-E pitcher Jenn Gasparek held them to four hits. Liz Caspari and Sarah Fordyce led the Eagles at the plate with two RBIs apiece.
