Published: May 20, 2008 12:10 am            

Mount Union spoils Ligonier Valley’s run

LIGONIER — Using a four-run third inning and strong defense in the later frames, Mount Union ended Ligonier Valley’s unbeaten season as the Trojans toppled the Mounties 7-2 in Monday’s District 6 Class AA quarterfinal.

Kassandra Atherton and Shanee Hockenberry each had two hits and two RBIs to pace the sixth-seeded Trojans’ attack, which found its legs in the third inning after third-seeded Ligonier Valley (18-1) had taken a 1-0 lead.

“I was worried whether we’d come out flat,” Mount Union coach Matt Fiscus said. “These girls decided that (Ligonier Valley) was the team with all the pressure. They’re the ones that were undefeated. We just came out to play ball.”

The Mounties’ Alysa Derk drew a walk in the second and advanced on a sacrifice grounder from Erica Beitel and a fielder’s choice to third off the bat of Julie Kiser. Derk came home when Amber Tutino doubled off the bag at second. Trojans pitcher Ashley Kitting struck out Natalie Barnhart on a called third strike to avoid further damage.

Kitting fanned six and allowed seven hits while walking two.

Mount Union (14-5) opened its rally in the third when Alicia Morgan singled to center. Courtesy runner Michaela Knuble swiped second and scored when Brittany Cox’s fly ball to left was dropped. Atherton doubled home pinch-runner Courtney Sunderland and scored on Hockenberry’s double to center.

Laiken Rosensteel drove in Hockenberry with a base hit to right to give Mount Union a 4-1 lead.

“(Mount Union) hit the ball well,” Ligonier Valley coach Mark Zimmerman said. “They hit the ball hard. They hit (pitcher) Christine (Henderson) as hard as anyone’s hit her all year.”

The Mounties chipped into the Mount Union lead in the bottom of the third as Henderson singled to start the frame. Courtesy runner Karly Tobias then came home when Katie Breegle’s fly ball to center was dropped for a three-base error. Kitting retired the next three Mounties batters in order to quell a potential uprising.

Henderson struck out seven while allowing nine hits.

Mount Union added to its lead in the fifth as Kierstine Boozel doubled to lead off the frame and pinch-runner Taylor Price scored when a third strike was dropped, allowing Rosensteel to reach first as Price sprinted home.

Atherton doubled home a run in the seventh and scored on Hockeberry’s single to set the final.

        

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