Softball: Northern Lebanon Rolls Past Muhlenberg Behind 24-Hit Attack

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Northern Lebanon Rolls Past Muhlenberg Behind 24-Hit Attack

Northern Lebanon kept its momentum rolling Friday afternoon, breaking loose for 24 hits in a 21-5 road win over Muhlenberg. Fresh off a dominant 9-1 victory over Manheim Township on Wednesday, the Vikings stayed hot in Reading and overwhelmed the Muhls with an offensive outburst that featured 8 extra-base hits.

Northern Lebanon wasted little time taking control. Muhlenberg committed an error that helped open the scoring in the top of the 1st before Alyssa Shirey singled to center and Sophia Roye lined an RBI single down the right field line, giving the Vikings a quick 3-0 lead.

The Vikings added to that advantage in the 3rd, when Addison Kubica and Shirey each came through with RBI singles to help push across 3 more runs. Muhlenberg answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th on an inside-the-park home run by Kaylee Jablonski, but Northern Lebanon never let the game tighten for long.

In the 6th, Northern Lebanon stretched the lead even further. Shirey’s inside-the-park homer scored 2 runs, and newly crowned LebCo Athlete of the Week Ryleigh Hopkins followed with an RBI single as the Vikings moved in front 14-4. Hopkins turned in another big day at the plate, finishing 3-6 with 4 runs scored, 4 RBI, and a triple.

The biggest inning came in the 7th, when Northern Lebanon erupted for 7 runs on 6 hits. Mykenah Johnson tripled home 2 runs, Makenzie West added an RBI single, Hopkins ripped a 2-run triple, Stephanie Palkovic followed with an RBI single, and Kubica doubled in another run to cap the outburst.

Northern Lebanon’s offense was relentless from top to bottom. The Vikings’ 24-hit attack included 8 extra-base hits, with Palkovic lacing 2 triples, Hopkins and Johnson each adding a triple, Kubica, Johnson, and West each doubling, and Shirey delivering the inside-the-park homer. Palkovic led the hit parade by going 5-6, while Roye, West, Kubica, Hopkins, and Johnson all added multi-hit performances.

Shirey led the way for Northern Lebanon overall, driving in 5 runs on 4 hits. She singled home a run in the 1st, added RBI singles in the 3rd and 4th, then delivered the inside-the-park home run in the 6th that plated 2 more runs.

Palkovic started in the circle for Northern Lebanon and worked 2.2 innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs, 1 earned, while walking 5. Addison Hollenbach handled the rest in relief, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing just 1 hit while striking out 6. She was charged with 3 runs and walked 4.

Muhlenberg showed some patience at the plate with 9 walks and 4 stolen bases. Jablonski led the Muhls with 2 hits, including the inside-the-park homer, while Blanca Ramos and Jablonski each stole multiple bases.

The Vikings are now 3-1 and will look to make it three in a row when they travel to face Hershey on Saturday.

Northern Lebanon 21, Muhlenberg 5

Northern Lebanon Leaders

Stephanie Palkovic: 5-6, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 3B
Alyssa Shirey: 4-6, 2 R, 5 RBI, HR
Ryleigh Hopkins: 3-6, 4 R, 4 RBI, 3B
Addison Kubica: 3-6, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B
Mykenah Johnson: 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B
Sophia Roye: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI
Makenzie West: 2-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2B

Northern Lebanon Pitching
Stephanie Palkovic: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 0 K
Addison Hollenbach: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

Muhlenberg Leaders

Kaylee Jablonski: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
Blanca Ramos: 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, BB
Madison Wentzel: 1-4, 1 R
Alyna Hernandez: 1-4, 1 RBI

Muhlenberg Pitching
Ella Stetler: 4.0 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Blanca Ramos: 3.0 IP, 14 H, 12 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Last Game: Vikings Explode in 4th to Beat Manheim Township 9-1