Softball: Cunningham’s Late RBI Lifts Palmyra Past Bishop McDevitt

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Cunningham’s Late RBI Lifts Palmyra Past Bishop McDevitt

Palmyra entered Monday’s game having won 2 of its previous 3 contests, and the Cougars seized a chance to get back to .500 by edging Bishop McDevitt 5-4 in a back-and-forth battle.

Palmyra struck first in the top of the 1st when Anna Crawford doubled home a run, but Bishop McDevitt answered in the bottom half on an RBI single from Sophia Guinta to tie the game at 1-1.

The Cougars moved back in front in the 2nd when Ava Walmer singled in a run, then added another tally in the 3rd on an RBI single by Sophie Cunningham to make it 3-1. Bishop McDevitt responded again in the bottom of the 3rd, tying the game with the help of a wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk.

Palmyra grabbed a 4-3 lead in the 5th when Kate Shenk brought home a run on a groundout, but the Crusaders answered once more in the bottom of the inning on Fran Safford’s RBI double.

That set the stage for the decisive moment in the 6th. With the game tied at 4, Cunningham came through with an RBI single that plated the go-ahead run and gave the Cougars the lead for good.

Emalyn Funck started in the circle for Palmyra and struck out 6 over 4.1 innings, allowing 4 runs, 3 of them earned. Crawford took over in relief and was excellent, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while allowing just 1 hit and striking out 4 without a walk.

Palmyra finished with 12 hits in the win. Cunningham led the way from the middle of the lineup by going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, while Walmer, Funck, and Crawford each collected multiple hits. The Cougars also turned a double play, played error-free defense and got 10 fielding chances from Avery Cassel.

Bishop McDevitt got 1 hit apiece from Safford, Olivia Miller, Guinta, Harper Plague, Karmell Wilson, and Katelyn Roadcap. Safford and Guinta each drove in a run for the Crusaders.

Palmyra is now 3-3 and will look to match last season’s win total when it travels to Central Dauphin East on Tuesday.

Palmyra 5, Bishop McDevitt 4

Palmyra Leaders

Sophie Cunningham: 3-4, 2 RBI
Anna Crawford: 2-3, R, RBI, BB, 3B, 2B
Emalyn Funck: 2-4, 2 R, 2 2B
Ava Walmer: 2-5, RBI, 2B
Layla Musser: 1-4, R
Shay Rutter: 1-1, R
Ellie Bullard: 1-3

Pitching
Emalyn Funck: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Anna Crawford (W): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Bishop McDevitt Leaders

Katelyn Roadcap: 1-3, 2 R, RBI
Fran Safford: 1-3, RBI, 2B
Sophia Guinta: 1-2, RBI
Harper Plague: 1-3
Karmell Wilson: 1-3, R
Olivia Miller: 1-3, R

Pitching
Janna Thomas: 7.0 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K