Wolverines overpower Pirates 20-7 in late game scoring streak

 Trailing 4-3 going into the top of the fifth inning, Weiser added five runs on their way to the 20-7 victory.

 The Wolverines had 15 hits in the first four innings, but had only turned in three runs against Payette’s defense. In the meantime, the Pirates had put two runs on the board in the bottom of each of the third and fourth innings.

 With two on base in the early going of the top of the fifth, Tobie Noyer singled on a fly ball to second, scoring Danica Lockett and advancing Macy Maloney to third. Trista Buescher walked, making the bases loaded, and Grace Swank followed up with a double on a line drive, scoring all three. Freshman Ellie Shirts doubled on a hard ground ball, sending Swank home, and putting Weiser into an 8-4 lead.

 A hit-by-pitch and a walk had two Pirates on base in the bottom half of the fifth when Pirates T. Voss bunted for a single. Already moving forward, Weiser’s first baseman Hannah Samson snagged the ball, sending it to G. Swank at third for a forced out of the lead runner. A strikeout, walk, and another strikeout ended the inning.

 First at bat in the top of the sixth, Paisley Noyer homered on a line drive to right field. Lockett doubled on a line drive, and Maloney singled on a ground ball to the pitcher. Lockett stole home, and Maloney went to third during the second of two fly outs in a row. Maloney stole home to put Weiser up 11-4, and G. Swank singled on a pop fly to short. Payette added a run in the bottom half on a Weiser fielding error.

 With one on base in the top of the seventh, P. Noyer hit her second home run of the game. Lockett and Maloney were on first and second when T. Noyer homered on a fly ball to right field, adding another three runs to Weiser’s score. 

 On first and second base, Trista Buescher and G. Swank each advanced on a wild pitch. Shirts hit a hard ground ball, reaching on a Payette error and scoring Buescher. H. Swank singled, loading the bases. Abi Wilkins singled on a hard ground ball to center, scoring G. Swank. With two outs, Lockett doubled on a fly ball to right field, scoring both Shirts and H. Swank, and rounding out Weiser’s runs at 20 before the last out.

 The Pirates added two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t make up the difference before the final ground out to Samson at first base.

 Lockett, G. Swank, Wilkins, T. Noyer, Maloney P. Noyer, and Shirts all had multiple hits. Lockett led, going 5-4-4; T. Noyer going 3-2-5; G. Swank 4-2-3; and P. Noyer 2-3-3.

 In earlier action, Weiser’s junior varsity Wolverines defeated the Pirates 19-0. Pitcher Madi Janicek allowed only one hit and no runs, throwing five strikeouts in four innings. Weiser had 19 runs on 14 hits in their second game of the season, and conference opener.