SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Lauren Gilbert split the gap in right-center with a triple to bring in two runs for PikeView in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing the Panthers to open up a three-run lead against Brooke on their way to a 4-1 victory at The Rock Field B at Little Creek Park.
The result extends the season for the sixth-seeded Panthers (23-8) at least one more game, while Brooke finished its campaign 18-16.
Gilbert’s triple to plate a pair came directly after a dropped fly ball had allowed Zoey Tupper to score from third base, providing PHS with the go-ahead run.
After both teams went down in order in the sixth, No. 7 Brooke made one last charge in the seventh.
Gabby Hornick, Avary Martino and Maggie Diserio each worked a walk to create a bases loaded situation with one out against PikeView pitcher Shelby Maddox.
Maddox delivered a pitch that Eden McKinney put a good swing on, but the line drive was caught by second baseman Bella Delida, who fired to first to complete a game-ending double play.
“You kind of get used to it. It’s been like that all year,” PikeView coach Steve Compton said. “We’ll go into that seventh inning up three or four and make it a game, but they did well.”
Brooke loaded the bases to start the game when its first three batters reached on a walk or single, but a sacrifice fly off the bat of Keira Kosut was all the Bruins could muster off Maddox.
Annie White’s run-scoring single in the home half of the second allowed PikeView to pull even, and after the rocky start in the pitching circle, Maddox settled in and then some.
She worked around a leadoff walk in the second and struck out the side before retiring Brooke in order in the third. The Bruins had a single in both the fourth and fifth innings, but never a runner beyond second base in those frames.
“In the first game, she kind of struggled, but our defense played well and then she came back alive this game and our defense was behind her when they needed to be,” Compton said. “I’m proud of them.”
Maddox finished with 12 strikeouts and six walks while scattering three hits.
She threw 269 pitches Tuesday across two games.
“She’s been doing it all year,” Compton said of the heavy workload. “She’s been our only pitcher. Our other pitcher got hurt about midseason. She works hard all the time and year round, so she’s ready for it. We give her the ball and she’s ready to go.”
White and Lambert had two hits apiece to combine for half of PikeView’s eight.
Eden McKinney had a valiant pitching performance in defeat, allowing three earned runs among four total on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work.