Bears nip East Lyme and reach semifinals
Up next for Stonington is matchup against the state’s No.1 team:Fitch
Griswold — Fourth-seeded Stonington erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning before holding on for a 9-7 victory over No. 5 East Lyme in the quarterfinals of the Eastern Connecticut Conference softball tournament on Tuesday.
The Vikings (15-6) chipped away to rally from a 9-1 deficit, scoring their final three runs in the seventh — two on a double by Alex Chambers — before the Bears stranded the tying run in scoring position to advance.
Stonington (17-4) will play top-seeded Fitch, a 15-0 winner over No. 8 Plainfield, in Wednesday's semifinals at 7 p.m.
Cameron Dreher went 3-for-4 with a triple and had a key hit that allowed three runs to score in the big fourth inning.
She also recorded her 100th career hit as did teammate Brooke Arruda with a double.
Abby Flakus added two hits, including a double, and derove in a pair for the Bears.
Chambers and Alex Marsh each had two hits for East Lyme, which beat Stonington 11-10 during the regular season. In other games: • Fitch beat Plainfield 15-0 in a game stopped after six innings due to the mercy rule.
Caroline Taber had four hits, including a homer and triple, and drove in six runs for Fitch. Jayden Delaporta earned the win, striking out five and giving up five hits in five innings.
Nicole Vignato had two hits and drove in two runs and Jonell Hobert and Ally Georgetti drove in two runs each for the top-seeded Fitch (21-0).
• Beth Fleming allowed one hit over six innings with 11 strikeouts as No. 2 Norwich Free Academy beat No. 7 Wheeler 12-0.
NFA plays No. 3 Waterford, a 9-3 winner over No. 6 Griswold in Tuesday night's final game, in the semifinals today at Griswold at 4 p.m.
Waterford beat the Wildcats earlier this season, 10-6 in eight innings, back on April 27 in Norwich.
Sara Cote was 3-for-4 with five RBI and hit a three-run homer in the eight-run fourth inning for the Wildcats (17-4).
Jordan Nute had two hits and Fleming was 3-for-5 with two runs scored for NFA.