NTL SOFTBALL: HILEY TOSSES ANOTHER GEM; ATHENS BLANKS NEB, 4-0 (2025-04-22)
Valley Sports ReportROME — Sophomore Gretchan Hiley continued her dominance in the pitcher's circle in leading Athens to a 4-0 win over Northeast Bradford here Tuesday afternoon in NTL softball action.
Hiley tossed a 1-hitter, while striking out 15 and walking two in a seven-inning complete-game win.
The Wildcats only had three hits off NEB starter Kelsea Moore, who struck out eight and walked four in seven innings.
After both pitchers struck out the side in the first inning, Athens took advantage of a pair of hit batters (senior Jules Pack and junior Savannah Finan) and a walk to to junior Danica May to load the bases with one out.
A squeeze bunt by freshman Kendall Galasso scored Pack with Athens' only run of the inning.
Athens led 1-0 after three innings, thanks to nine consecutive strikeouts by Hiley to start the game.
Senior Ella Coyle led off the fourth inning with a double into left field, and scored on a two-out RBI single to right field by May to make it 2-0.
Hiley struck out the first two batters in the fourth inning, but the first reached on a dropped third strike. The runner was thrown out attempting to steal by freshman catcher Memphis Paul moments before Moore worked a walk, but Hiley finished off the inning by inducing an infield pop out.
The Wildcats added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning when Coyle led off with a walk, and scored on an RBI double by Pack, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Finan.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Moore worked another walk and Kiarra DeLancey broke up the no-hitter with a single into center field.
Pack doubled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, and Coyle doubled and scored two runs to pace Athens at the plate, while May singled and drove in one run, and Galasso and Finan each had one RBI.
Athens, now 9-0, travels to Troy Thursday.
——————————
IN PHOTO: Athens sophomore Gretchan Hiley. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
Print Friendly Version
