Softball: Cougars Match Last Year’s Win Total with Rout of CD East

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Cougars Match Last Year’s Win Total with Rout of CD East

A day after taking down Bishop McDevitt on the road, Palmyra was back in the bus Tuesday and kept the momentum rolling. Entering the matchup against Central Dauphin East with a 3-3 record, the Cougars were looking to move above .500 and match last year’s win total. They did both in emphatic fashion, piling up runs in every inning of a 20-1 victory that lasted just three innings.

Palmyra wasted no time setting the tone in the 1st. Emalyn Funck drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, Anna Crawford brought home another with a groundout, and Kate Shenk followed with a two-run single to make it 4-0.

The Cougars kept the pressure on in the 2nd by scoring six more runs on seven hits. Ellie Bullard singled in a run, Funckripped a two-run triple, Layla Musser added an RBI groundout, Shenk doubled home another run, and Genevieve Smiley capped the inning with an RBI single.

Palmyra then broke it open for good with a nine-run 3rd. Musser singled in two runs, Shenk added a sacrifice fly, Smileydelivered a three-run single, Funck doubled in another run, and Grace Morrison chipped in a two-run single as the Cougars built the lead to 20-1.

Funck was sharp in the circle, allowing just one hit and one run over three innings while striking out five and walking one. She also helped lead the offense, going 4-for-3 with two RBI, a double, a triple, and two stolen bases.

Palmyra finished with 17 hits and applied steady pressure throughout. Musser went 3-for-4 to lead the Cougars in hits, while Shenk and Musser each drove in three runs. Smiley, Sophie Cunningham, Ava Walmer, and Funck also had multi-hit games. The Cougars drew five walks and stole eight bases, with Walmer and Funck each swiping multiple bags. Cunningham is now batting .476 this season, while Crawford leads the team with eight RBI.

For Central Dauphin East, Gaby Paul went 1-for-1 and drove in the Panthers’ lone run.

Palmyra is now 4-3 and has won four of its last five games. The Cougars will look to make it three straight when they host Gettysburg on Thursday.

Palmyra 20, CD East 1

Palmyra Leaders

Ava Walmer: 2-3, 3 R, 2 H, 2 SB
Ellie Bullard: 1-2, 2 R, RBI
Emalyn Funck: 4-3, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B, BB, 2 SB
Sophie Cunningham: 2-3, 2 R
Anna Crawford: 1-3, 2 R, RBI
Layla Musser: 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI
Kate Shenk: 2-2, R, 3 RBI, 2B, SF
Genevieve Smiley: 2-3, R, 2 RBI
Grace Morrison: 1-1, RBI

Pitching
Emalyn Funck (W): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Central Dauphin East Leaders

Gaby Paul: 1-1, RBI

Pitching
Allison Gardner: 3.0 IP, 17 H, 20 R, 11 ER, 5 BB, 2 K

Last Game: Cunningham’s Late RBI Lifts Palmyra Past Bishop McDevitt