Big inning propels Knoch softball past upset-minded Greensburg Salem
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Monday, May 20, 2019 | 7:54 PM
Knoch starting pitcher Amanda Fischer throws against Greensburg Salem during quarterfinal Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hampton Community Park.
Knoch short stop Monica Gourley fields a ball hit by Greensburg Salem’s Kayla Gaughan during quarterfinal Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hampton Community Park.
Knoch’s Greensburg Salem starting pitcher Rena Cauruso throws against Knoch during quarterfinal Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hampton Community Park.
Knoch’s Brynnae Coe (20) celebrates with Bailey Rickenbrode and Quinn Hughes (24) after Rickenbrode and Hughes Greensburg Salem’s during quarterfinal Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hampton Community Park.
Knoch right fielder Marissa Melius makes a running catch on a ball hit by Greensburg Salem’s Kasey Storkel.
Greensburg Salem’s Tiffany Bruzda scores against Knoch during quarterfinal Monday, May 20, 2019 at Hampton Community Park.
Greensburg Salem had its sights set on a second consecutive upset in the WPIAL Class 4A softball playoffs.
The No. 11 Golden Lions trailed third-seeded Knoch by two runs going into the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Knights sent 11 batters to the plate before any were retired and scored eight runs to defeat Greensburg Salem, 12-2, on Monday afternoon at Hampton Community Park.
Liv Vissari drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Amanda Fischer with the run that terminated the game via the 10-run rule.
Knoch (17-1) will play Elizabeth Forward (15-3) in a semifinal Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.
The Golden Lions, coming off a first-round victory last week over Ambridge, concluded their season at 7-12.
“We just held it together as long as we could,” Greensburg Salem coach Rachel Brannigan said. “They’re a great team. We didn’t seem to hit at the right time and put it all together.”
The Golden Lions had scored in the top of the sixth when Sydney Tressler’s groundout to first brought home Tiffany Brudza, who opened the inning with a single.
It was Knoch’s first action in 12 days after receiving an opening-round bye.
“The girls, once they see a pitcher a couple or three times, they get dangerous,” Knights coach Gary Coe said. “It was just a matter of time. I was hoping they were going to break out, and they did.”
Sophomore Marissa Melius, who tripled home a run earlier in the game, started the big inning with a walk. Three errors and four hits later, Melius was up again and intentionally was walked to load the bases.
Vissari’s walk closed out the game that lasted just 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Knoch was kept occupied during the layoff by trying to time Coe’s fastballs and playing in scrimmages. Coe was pleased the girls asked for more practice over the weekend.
“They actually came to me and asked to practice,” Coe said, “so that’s what they did.”
“We were definitely worried about not having a game for a week-and-a-half,” said pitcher Amanda Fischer, who struck out eight. “We weren’t sure how it was going to turn out facing a higher-level team. It was a close game that kept all of us interested until we finally got the bats going.”
The loss also brought down the curtain on an outstanding high school career for Greensburg Salem multi-sport standout Nikki Mellinger.
Mellinger doubled twice, drove in a run and made a spectacular catch in center field on a sinking liner by Erin Luffy to open the Knoch fifth.
“She’s a great leader,” Brannigan said of Mellinger. “The girls look up to her, and having been in those pressure situations soccer and basketball, this is the first time she advanced past the first round of the playoffs. She was so excited, but it’s a bittersweet end on that.”
Bryannae Coe and Quinn Hughes had three hits each for Knoch. Hughes contributed a double to the sixth-inning outburst.
The Knights have at least two games left. If they lose in the semifinals Wednesday, Knoch will play a consolation game next Tuesday to determine the WPIAL’s third entry into the PIAA playoffs.
Tags: Greensburg Salem, Knoch
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