Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Sadie Wanck and Teriana Orshal clubbed back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to finish off Athens' come-from-behind 9-6 win over Southern Tioga here Friday evening in the championship round of the District 15 Majors Division softball playoffs.
With the win, Athens not only avenges a 9-8 loss to Southern Tioga in the winner's bracket finals on Monday, but forces a decisive winner-take-all third game Sunday in the double-elimination tournament.
Southern Tioga drew first blood with two runs in the top of the second, but Athens answered with two runs in the home half of the inning.
ST regained the lead with a run in the top of the third, but Athens again answered, this time with three runs to take a 5-3 lead.
Southern Tioga scored three times in the top of the fifth to take a 6-5 lead, but Athens scored four runs in the home half of the inning — all with two outs.
With two outs, Sophia Barrett stroked a single to left field and stole second base, then scored on an RBI double by Hadley Liechty to tie the game at 6-6.
Two pitches later, Wanck belted a home run over the left-field fence to give Athens an 8-6 lead.
Three pitches after that, Orshal smacked a shot over the center-field fence to extend the lead to 9-6.
Southern Tioga loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, but Athens ace Molly McGrath registered a strikeout, then Orshal snared a line drive at third base to end the game.
Barrett and Liechty each doubled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, and Livia Powers singled twice and scored one run to pace Athens' 12-hit attack, which included seven extra-base hits.
Wanck homered, scored two runs, and drove in two runs, and Orshal homered, scored one run, and knocked in two runs in the win, while Lindsay Ahern doubled and had two RBI, and Nora Morales doubled, scored one run, and drove in one run.
McGrath doubled and knocked in one run, and Kendall Butcher added a single for Athens.
McGrath earned the win, allowing six runs — three earned — on three hits in six innings. She struck out nine and walked 12.
Athens and Southern Tioga square off Sunday at 4 p.m. for the District 15 title.
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PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM.
