Union rides 2 big innings to 10-0 win over Lady Pioneers
McKEES ROCKS – West Greene kept top-seeded Union off the scoreboard in four of the first six innings of their WPIAL Class A softball semifinal game on May 22.
The Lady Scotties did plenty of damage in the two innings they did score in.
Irelyn Fisher’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run third inning and Union exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the mercy rule in a 10-0 win over the Lady Pioneers at Montour High School.
Mia Preus, who also homered, pitched a three-hit shutout with one walk and seven strikeouts as the Lady Scotties advanced to the championship game against third-seeded Chartiers-Houston, which edged No. 2 Carmichaels in the other semifinal game, 3-2.
Mallory Gorgacz doubled twice and drove in a run and Maggie Joseph also doubled for Union (20-1) which pounded out 11 hits.
“We knew they had the potential to put some runs up,” West Greene coach Bill Simms said. “We hung in there but they did a good job of closing us out late.”
Losing pitcher Payton Gilbert allowed three earned runs on five hits with four walks and one strikeout in five innings before being relieved by Sammi Zimmerman.
The Lady Pioneers (13-8) threatened to score first in the first and third innings..
Gilbert singled with one out in the first, stole second and went to third on Emmaline Beazell’s ground out but Preuhs ended the inning with a strikeout.
Ella Scott singled leading off the third inning for West Greene and was bunted to second by Ali Goodwin but Marissa Thaprp lined into an inning-ending double play.
“That play kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit,” Simms said. “Then they rebounded right after that and had the big home run the next inning.”
The only other hit Preuhs allowed was a one-out double to Beazell in the fourth.
Fisher’s home run gave Union a 3-0 lead in the third and Gorgacz added a run-scoring double later in the inning to make it 4-0.
The Lady Scotties combined Pruehs’ homer with two doubles, three singles and a walk to score six runs in the sixth with Tori May’s RBI hit ending the game with two outs.
“They’re two-time WPIAL champions for a reason,” Simms said. “We’re not going to go around and criticize our girls. We’re going to give credit where credit is due.”
West Greene’s season is not over. The Lady Pioneers had already qualified for the PIAA tournament and were to play Carmichaels in the third-place consolation game Tuesday to determine seeding for the two WPIAL teams.