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June 07. 2012 9:34PM
Div. II softball semis: Portsmouth walks off with victory
HOOKSETT — Sophomore Molly Shoer shot a single to center to score freshman Brooke Matthews with the walk-off run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Portsmouth rallied for a 4-3 victory over Souhegan of Amherst in the Division II softball semifinals on Thursday at Southern New Hampshire University.
Fourth-seeded Portsmouth had just seen the eighth-ranked Sabers rally with three runs in their final two at-bats to take a 3-1 lead. But the Clippers (15-4) responded with three of their four runs and five of their eight hits in the seventh to advance to the title game against third-ranked Kennett of Conway on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Southern New Hampshire.
“We just watched Kennett come from behind (on Wednesday),” said Portsmouth coach Kim Grenon. “I said, ‘Let’s do it, let’s pull a Kennett.’”
Senior Katie Sullivan (two hits) started the comeback with a 200-foot home run to left on the first pitch she saw against Souhegan senior starter Angela Mukai. “Katie’s been eyeing that 190 (foot) sign the whole time,” Grenon said. “We told her to go for a single, but we were happy with the outcome.”
Three straight singles by senior Courtney Blanchette, junior Sarah Winchell and Matthews loaded the bases. After a force out at home, senior Victoria Griggs hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. Shoer, who bunted for the first hit of the game in the fourth, followed with her game-winner.
“Molly’s been sick half the season,” Grenon said. “But she just did her thing. I’ve seen her tomahawk a triple.”
Portsmouth starter Mariah Crisp did her thing on the mound. The Clipper senior struck out eight and allowed just five hits and one earned run to the Sabers (13-6).
Souhegan looked poised for a trip to the finals after a dropped fly ball in left allowed senior Allison Mensh and freshman Lauren McCormick to score to put Souhegan ahead 2-1 in the sixth. The Sabers tacked on a run in the seventh when a suicide squeeze by senior Kara Foley scored sophomore Valarie Mukai.
Angela Mukai struck out five in the loss.
Craig Liadis may be reached at cliadis@unionleader.com.
Fourth-seeded Portsmouth had just seen the eighth-ranked Sabers rally with three runs in their final two at-bats to take a 3-1 lead. But the Clippers (15-4) responded with three of their four runs and five of their eight hits in the seventh to advance to the title game against third-ranked Kennett of Conway on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Southern New Hampshire.
“We just watched Kennett come from behind (on Wednesday),” said Portsmouth coach Kim Grenon. “I said, ‘Let’s do it, let’s pull a Kennett.’”
Senior Katie Sullivan (two hits) started the comeback with a 200-foot home run to left on the first pitch she saw against Souhegan senior starter Angela Mukai. “Katie’s been eyeing that 190 (foot) sign the whole time,” Grenon said. “We told her to go for a single, but we were happy with the outcome.”
Three straight singles by senior Courtney Blanchette, junior Sarah Winchell and Matthews loaded the bases. After a force out at home, senior Victoria Griggs hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. Shoer, who bunted for the first hit of the game in the fourth, followed with her game-winner.
“Molly’s been sick half the season,” Grenon said. “But she just did her thing. I’ve seen her tomahawk a triple.”
Portsmouth starter Mariah Crisp did her thing on the mound. The Clipper senior struck out eight and allowed just five hits and one earned run to the Sabers (13-6).
Souhegan looked poised for a trip to the finals after a dropped fly ball in left allowed senior Allison Mensh and freshman Lauren McCormick to score to put Souhegan ahead 2-1 in the sixth. The Sabers tacked on a run in the seventh when a suicide squeeze by senior Kara Foley scored sophomore Valarie Mukai.
Angela Mukai struck out five in the loss.
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Craig Liadis may be reached at cliadis@unionleader.com.
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