Bunner’s HR big hit in Lady Scots’ 6-2 win over Beaver
Briana Bunner’s home run in the top of the fourth inning provided the spark Wednesday afternoon, as the Southmoreland Lady Scots upended Beaver, 6-2, in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA softball playoffs at Fairhaven Park.
The Lady Scots (12-3) advance to play Hampton (11-4) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, May 19, at a site and time to be determined. The Lady Talbots defeated Elizabeth-Forward, 12-10.
Southmoreland set the tone in its first at-bat with three runs, two coming home on Makenna Myers’ two-run single.
Although the Lady Scots led 3-0 through the first three innings, it wasn’t necessarily smooth sailing for Southmoreland and starting pitcher Kristen Suhan.
“After the first inning, our girls had a lot of confidence,” said Southmoreland coach Todd Bunner. “Once we got through their lineup the first time, our confidence grew.
“They had girls on base the first time through the lineup. (Tayven Rousseau) led of the first and was stranded at third. They stranded six in the first three innings and 11 for the game.”
Beaver (10-3) finally cracked the scoreboard with a single run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Lady Scots quickly responded with a run in the top of the sixth inning.
Beaver scored its second run in the bottom of the seventh.
Suhan kept things together for Southmoreland on the mound, striking out three and walking three. The Lady Scots had seven hits and were helped with timely walks and the occasional error.
“Our mindset was to be aggressive and put the ball in play,” said Bunner. “We have a good pitcher and no one expects us to win. We had a few key walks and some timely hits.”
Bunner doesn’t expect his squad’s attitude to change as the prepare for another higher seeded team in Hampton.
“We’ll go into the next game the same way. No one expects us to win,” said Bunner, adding, “The sky is the limit.”