Moore helps Cavaliers wrap up top ‘A’ seed
Stellar relief performance, triple help Spalding stay perfect in IAAM
Archbishop Spalding’s Jordan Moore might not have thought she’d have a very busy day Tuesday.
When called upon, though, she was more than ready.
Moore took over for starting pitcher Makenzie Maenner in the top of the second inning of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference contest with McDonogh. She retired the first 10 hitters she faced and ended up giving up just one earned run on three hits in six innings in the No. 7 Cavaliers’ 3-1 victory over the No. 12 Eagles.
Archbishop Spalding (9-3, 7-0 IAAM A Conference) wrapped up the top seed in the conference tournament and defeated McDonogh for the second time this year.
After Moore started the previous game against McDonogh, Maenner got the start Tuesday but was forced to exit because of injury after retiring the side in order in the top of the first.
“I knew there was a chance I’d have to go in. If one person starts, the other person should be ready because you never know what’s going to happen,” said Moore, who had started five games before Tuesday. “She did really well in the first inning, so it was a shock. It’s always nice to get some innings.”
After sending the Eagles down in order in the top of the second, Moore tripled and scored on a two-out single from Sarah Slaton for the game’s first run. Moore, meanwhile, struck out three of the first six hitters she faced and didn’t give up a hit or a base runner until there was one out in the fifth. She hit a batter in the top of the sixth, then gave up a run on two hits in the top of the seventh before retiring the potential tying run to improve to 4-2.
“She [Maenner] has had a little bit of a nagging injury, then it just seemed to flare up today,” Spalding coach Nicki Trumpler said. “In every game, we make sure that both are loose because you never know what’s going to happen. They’ve split a lot of time this year, so it’s good for both of them to get the experience.”
The Cavaliers added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Caroline Wasko led off with a walk and scored on Angela Sena’s double.
After a pair of outs, Maddie Burns singled in Sena with the Cavaliers’ third run.
Spalding has one conference game remaining, with Mount de Sales on Tuesday. The Cavaliers have a loaded out-of-conference schedule this year and will play Northern, Elizabeth Seton and Winter’s Mill before the playoffs, which will begin n May. 8. As the top seed, they’ll have to win only a semifinal home game to advance to the final.
Lauren Fish singled home Kearstyn Chapman, who had doubled to lead off the seventh, for the Eagles’ run. Sophia Martinez had the other hit for McDonogh (6-5), while Chapman gave up six hits and struck out six in six innings.