Bensalem falls to Souderton in eight innings
BENSALEM >> Eight innings were enough for Jess Lepore.
“At that point, I just kind of thought to myself, ‘You know what, this has got to happen,’” the Souderton junior shortstop said. “There’s two out, you got two strikes and I don’t want to play another inning.”
And the Indians didn’t have too after Lepore belted an RBI triple into left center field, breaking a 2-2 tie with Bensalem in the top of the eighth as 20th-seeded Souderton answered the No. 13 Owls’ late rally for an upset 3-2 win in the District 1-6A first round Monday afternoon.
“Just got to hit it anywhere and that pitch, that was a perfect pitch for me to hit,” Lepore said.
The district victory was the first for Souderton (12-8) since 2016 and advanced Big Red to a secondround matchup at fourthseeded Downingtown West Wednesday.
“I think it means a lot cause we made districts last year and just fell short,” Indians coach Liz Parkins said. “We lost 10-8 (to Council Rock North) and that I think came down to the bottom of the seventh. But no, this means a lot, these girls have worked hard all year and had some games not go their way so that to have this one, them fight all the way to the finish, I think it sets a good tone for the rest of districts.”
Souderton jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a run in both the second and third but Bensalem (11-8) rallied back with a run on an error in the fifth then pulling even in in the sixth on Maggie Formichelli’s twoout squeeze bunt single.
Lepore came up big defensively in bottom of the seventh, diving to snag a liner by Jessica Klein for the second out. The catch proved even more beneficial when Chloe Munyon doubled to right on the next atbat. Souderton pitcher Abby Burns, however, forced extras by getting the next batter to fly out to right.
“I’m going to be honest with you that was just muscle memory,” said Lepore of her catch. “I’ve done that many times before in practice. We’ve practiced those and my body just kind of did it, I didn’t really have to think about it much.”
In the top of the eighth, the Indians first two batters went down on infield pop outs but Julia Kistler made in to first on a single to the right side of the infield. That brought up Lepore, who sent a ball into the left-center gap to easily score Kistler and get to third for a triple.
“Jess, she had an awesome day tonight,” Parkins said. “Defensively for sure, catching that line drive, laying out for it, just leaving everything on the field, it’s a completely different game if that gets through.
“And then she offensively she’s been pretty consistent but in the last couple game struggled just a bit with some timing so that’s what we were working through all game and this last at-bat she really got it and came up clutch for us.”
Burns retired the Owls in the order in the bottom of the eight with a strikeout and two fly outs to left. The freshman right-hander gave up two runs — one earned — on 10 hits in earning the complete-game victory. She struck out three and did not allow a walk.
Souderton (12-8) Bensalem (11-8)
WP: Abby Burns. LP: Dani Sharpe. 2B: S-Jen Klepfer, Naila Neely; B-Haley Keenan, Chloe Munyon; 3B: S-Jess Lepore, Sam Nuneviller.
METHACTION 7, TRUMAN 3 EAGLEVILLE, PA. >> Making its first playoff appearance since 2012, the Tigers were eliminated in the first round when the home team scored two runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Elle Olivero went 4-for-4 and Emily Merrigan doubled in a losing effort.
Truman (9-12) Methacton 011 000 01 — 3 8 1 000 011 00 — 2 10 1 010 002 0 — 3 0 3 100222x—7101
WP-Pellicano. LP-Carter. 2B-Merrigan (T), Dean (M). HR-Bockrath (M).