Mulholland’s 3-run blast helps Pennsbury edge North Penn
FAIRLESS HILLS, PA. » It was just the kind of softball game you would expect between Southeastern Pennsylvania’s two biggest heavyweights — and more.
In what could very well be a preview of the district final, undefeated Pennsbury came up big time Tuesday with a 4-3 victory over North Penn in a battle of undefeated teams.
North Penn (5-1) came to Pennsbury (6-0) riding high with the top ranking in the district and the knowledge when these teams met two years ago with the same starting pitchers, Mady Volpe had beaten the Falcons and Ainsley McClure, 4-0.
Obviously, it was a much different story this time around and the biggest difference was Pennsbury’s ability to lay off Volpe’s high stuff. Headed to Coastal Carolina, Volpe did strike out 12 batters, but the disciplined Falcons were also able to get to her for six hits.
The big inning came in the bottom of the third when Pennsbury’s excellent No. 9 batter Jess Rowe got the inning going with a line drive triple to right. After a strikeout and walk, Volpe almost got out of the inning with a pop up to second.
Note the operative word is almost. Instead, Pennsbury’s No. 4 batter Rowan Mulholland then jumped all over a Volpe heater and blasted a towering three-run homer to right center.
“We knew we were up against a great team with a fantastic pitcher,” said Mulholland, who also doubled
and is 9-for-19 for the season. “We knew it would be one of those games where we had to stay focused the whole time.”
Pennsbury also scored in the fourth when Volpe hit a batter and issued three walks, including one to Quinn McGoingle with the bases loaded. That fourth run proved to be huge because North Penn came roaring back on a solo home run by Bri Wilmot in the fifth and a two-run shot by Sarah Sabocski in the sixth.
When North Penn then got two singles with no outs after cutting the lead to one, it looked like all the momentum was with the Lansdale club. To her credit, it was also at this point where McClure
showed what she’s made of by getting out of the jam with two strikeouts and a grounder to third.
McClure (seven-hitter, six strikeouts) then sailed through the seventh with no problems for the impressive win in a game in which she threw a bunch of effective change-ups.
“I try to approach every game the same, but we know what kind of team they have,” said McClure. “I remember everything about that game (from two years ago). They have a great pitcher. I knew I had to go as hard as I could for the whole game.”
Rowe and Mulholland each had two hits for Pennsbury. In what seems to be an
ever game occurrence, Falcon center fielder Riley Mahoney also made another highlight reel running catch.
While the North Penn coaching staff and fans spent much of the day whining about the “Bucks County umpires,” Pennsbury just kept on getting quality at bats against an outstanding pitcher.
“We did have a lot of really good at bats,” agreed Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry. “And Ainsley getting out of that jam in the sixth was really big. It was battle between two really good pitchers.” North Penn (5-1) 000 012 0 — 3 7 0 Pennsbury (6-0) 003 100 x — 4 6 1 WP-McClure. LP-Volpe. 2B-Mulholland (P). 3B-Rowe (P). HR-Wilmot (NP), Sabocsik (NP), Mulholland. RBIs: NP-Wilmot, Sabocsik 2. P-McGonigle, Mulholland 3.