Softball: ELCO Uses Massive 5th Inning to Put Away Lebanon

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ELCO Uses Massive 5th Inning to Put Away Lebanon

ELCO visited Lebanon on Monday as the two LebCo teams squared off with the Raiders looking for their sixth win of the season and the Cedars looking to build a foundation with their young roster. In a game that ended after five innings due to the ten-run rule, the Raiders piled up 26 hits and broke things open with a massive 17-run 5th inning on the way to a 32-6 victory.

The Raiders got on the board in the top of the 1st when Kylie Cruz produced a run with a groundout and Chloe Shirk followed with a home run to right field, giving ELCO a quick 2-0 lead.

ELCO added four more runs in the 2nd to stretch the margin to 6-0. Emma Fisher doubled home a run, then Makayla Noll connected on a home run to center as the Raiders continued to apply early pressure.

The Raiders kept rolling in the 3rd, scoring seven runs on six hits. Mallorie Bossler singled in a run, Layla Werneradded an RBI single, and Noll followed with another run-scoring hit before Cruz delivered one of the biggest swings of the day, a grand slam to center that pushed the ELCO lead even further.

Lebanon answered in the bottom of the 4th with its best offensive inning of the day, scoring five runs on two hits while showing patience at the plate. Rayven Soliday singled home a run, Skylar Strickler, who recorded her first career varsity hit in the game, drew a bases-loaded walk, Aubri Pisano lined a 2-run single, and Athena Griffiths added another RBI via walk. Pisano finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, while Lebanon drew 14 walks as a team. Griffiths and Layla Mailloux each worked three walks.

Any thoughts of a late rally were quickly erased in the top of the 5th, when ELCO exploded for 17 runs on 13 hits. Justine Geyer singled in a run, Werner launched a 3-run homer to center, Cheyenne Wolfe doubled in a run, Cruz worked a bases-loaded walk, and Shirk came through with a 2-run single. The Raiders kept the line moving from there, adding more runs on RBI singles, a walk, a hit batter, an error, and even a fielder’s choice as the inning turned into a complete offensive avalanche.

Noll set the tone from the leadoff spot, going 5-for-5 with 6 RBI to lead the Raiders. Cruz finished 2-for-5 with a team-high 7 RBI, while Shirk collected multiple hits and drove in 4 runs. Bossler, Geyer, Kenzie Deeks, Shirk, and Werner all turned in multi-hit performances as ELCO’s lineup produced from top to bottom.

In the circle, Sophie Werner earned the win for ELCO after working 3.1 innings. She allowed 4 hits and 6 runs, 5 earned, while striking out 3. Deeks followed with 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, helping the Raiders close things out.

Mailloux took the loss for Lebanon, working all five innings. She struck out 2 and walked 5. Despite the final score, the Cedars continued to battle and showed some offensive patience throughout the afternoon.

ELCO also showed a disciplined approach of its own with five walks, and the Raiders turned a double play in a strong all-around effort.

ELCO (6-1) has now won three straight and will host Octorara on Tuesday. Lebanon (0-4) will host Ephrata on Thursday.

ELCO 32, Lebanon 6

ELCO Leaders

Makayla Noll: 5-5, 5 R, 5 H, 6 RBI
Kylie Cruz: 2-5, 2 R, 2 H, 7 RBI
Chloe Shirk: 3-5, 3 R, 3 H, 4 RBI, HR
Mallorie Bossler: 4-6, 3 R, 5 RBI, HR
Layla Werner: 3-4, 4 R, 2 RBI, 3B
Emma Fisher: 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2B
Cheyenne Wolfe: 1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B
Sophie Werner: 2-3, RBI
Vanessa Szerba: 1-2, 5 R, RBI

ELCO Pitching
Sophie Werner: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 12 BB, 3 K
Kenzie Deeks: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Lebanon Leaders

Aubri Pisano: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Rayven Soliday: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, 3B
Skylar Strickler: 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB, 3B
Athena Griffiths: RBI, 3 BB
Makenzie Swisher: RBI, 2 BB

Lebanon Pitching
Layla Mailloux: 5.0 IP, 26 H, 32 R, 32 ER, 5 BB, 2 K