Elza's walk-off lifts University to Game 1 victory over Morgantown in regional championship series
The Hawks dug their claws in when their backs were against the wall and worked their way back from a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extras, eventually taking Game 1 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth on a bases-loaded, walk-off single by Lexi Elza.
Seven different Mohigans earned a hit with Liz Alsop and Beth Robinson each tallying a pair. Maddie Wisman went the distance for MHS in the defeat, throwing 8.2 innings with nine hits, four runs, and eight strikeouts.
Each team had nine hits in the contest. UHS junior Maddie Campbell went 3 for 5 at the plate while also tossing seven innings with only one run allowed and 12 strikeouts.
'We had plenty of chances throughout the game, but seemed a little bit unsure at the start and left a lot of runners on base, but we never gave up,' UHS head coach Mindy Parks said. 'We knew we had it in us, and I think our mentality was great. It feels good to get the first win.'
MHS took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a double by senior Anne Robinson, scoring her sister Beth and Kira Smith.
The Hawks cut the deficit in half in the bottom half of the same frame as Adalyn Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought Whitney Cox home to score.
Campbell entered the game in relief of UHS starter Sophia Lehosit to open the third inning and held the Mohigans scoreless through the next three frames. But the Hawks offense didn't produce a run either, and MHS added another in the sixth as Haley Street took home on a wild pitch.
The Hawks blanked again in their offensive half of the sixth as Wisman worked MHS out of a bases-loaded jam. But Campbell matched the effort and didn't allow the lead to grow any more than two runs.
'Honestly, I love coming in to relieve in games,' Campbell said. 'Sophia and I work so well together. We are alike in pitching styles, yet we have different approaches. I think it's an advantage for us to have that option.'
Trailing 3-1, the Hawks loaded the bases with one out as Kelsey Park came to the plate and sent a long fly ball into center field.
Alsop tracked the ball down and snagged it out of the air, and the UHS runners took off on the catch. Maddie Walls scored easily from third, and Bri Royce came around from second to tie the game and force extra innings.
MHS earned two hits, and Olivia Masoner pelted a double for UHS, but neither side found a run in the eighth.
Alsop led off the ninth with a single, but three outs followed her hit to bring the Hawks back to the plate with a chance to end the game.
With one out, Park reached on an error in the infield and Campbell slapped her third base hit, giving UHS two runners with one out.
Lehosit walked to load the bases, and Masoner followed with a fly ball for out number two. That's when Elza took center stage and sent the third pitch of her at-bat into left field, which safely landed on the turf, giving UHS the win as Park touched home.
Game 2 will be played on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. on ISS Field at Mylan Park. UHS leads 1-0 in the series, one win away from a ticket to the 2025 WVSSAC state softball tournament next week in South Charleston. If MHS wins on Tuesday, a decisive Game 3 will be played on Lynch Field on Wednesday evening.
BOX SCORE
University 4, Morgantown 3
MHS 020 001 000 – 3 9 4
UHS 010 000 201 – 4 9 0
Morgantown (0-1) – A. Robinson 4012 G. Robinson 5000 Alsop 4020 Wisman 3010 Rhodes 5000 Smith 4110 Messerly 4010 B. Robinson 3120 Stone 3010
2B: Wisman
3B: A. Robinson
University (1-0) – Park 5102 Campbell 5030 Lehosit 4020 Masoner 5000 Elza 5021 Cox 2100 Brown 3020 Stevens 2000 shaver 2000 Royce 4100
2B: Brown (2)
Lehosit (W): 2.0ip 1h 2r 4bb 1k (Campbell: 7.0ip 8h 1r 3bb 12k)
Wisman (L): 8.2ip 9h 4r 3bb 8k
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