La PLUME, Pa. – Keystone softball can lay claim to sole possession of first place atop the conference season standings after toppling visiting Rosemont, 5-4, in game No. 1 of Thursday afternoon's Colonial States Athletic Conference doubleheader at Edmunds Field.
Both teams entered with a 5-1 CSAC record as Keystone clipped the Ravens in walk-off fashion for the game-one win before inclement weather in the sixth inning halted play of game No. 2 with Rosemont leading, 4-3.
No date and time has yet been determined for the continuation of play.
With the win, the Giants now stand with a 6-1 record (12-9 overall) while the Ravens fell to 5-2 CSAC, 9-14 overall.
Right behind both teams is Keystone's next two opponents: Saint Elizabeth and Wilson — both with 4-2 conference records.
Game 1: Rosemont 4, Keystone 5
Courtney Cienki (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) got the start in the pitching circle for the Giants and opened the game by loading the bases with three hit batsmen but was able to minimize the damage with two strikeouts for only one run allowed.
The Giants responded by loading the bases on a string of base hits and walks to tie the game up before Elle Olivero (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) blasted a deep fly out to right-center field to bring a run in. Rosemont cut the relay off and attempted to get the runner out at second base, but a mishandled throw allowed Paige Mokychic (Beaumont, Pa./Tunkhannock Area) to score home for a two-run lead.
Ravens battled back in the top of the third inning as senior Emily Bingman blasted a two-out three-run homer to right-center field to re-take the lead with a 4-3 score.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Giants rallied on two outs for back-to-back-to-back singles from Jordan Frye (Cheltenham, Pa./St. Hubert Catholic), Olivero and Mara Brooks (Manassas, Va./Brentsville) to bring in the equalizing run.
The score held through the next 1-1/2 innings until Keystone's last chance up to bat as Mokychic lined a lead-off double to the right-center field gap, prompting Rosemont to swap out starting pitcher Myora Slaughter for Dani Sharpe.
Frye landed a high fly ball to the same right-center field spot to put runners at second and third base.
Olivero hit a deep fly to left field as Mokychic tagged up and slid home safely for the walk-off win.
Game 2: Rosemont 4, Keystone 3 (Halted in Bottom of 6th Inning)
Game No. 2 started in similar fashion with the first two batters getting on base by hit pitches — this time with Frye in the pitching circle.
The Ravens brought a run in for the early 1-0 lead, then added two more an inning later on a two-out two-RBI double from Lauren Begg.
Keystone chipped away at the deficit with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to make it a 3-3 tie after five complete.
Gillyan Dewbrew led off the top of sixth with a home run for her second RBI of the game, giving Rosemont the one-run lead.
Play was halted in the bottom half of the frame due to inclement weather and field conditions.
What's Next
Keystone will be on the road for a pair of two-game series starting with Saint Elizabeth (7-5 overall) Monday, April 18 followed by April 21 at Wilson (10-9-1 overall).
Rosemont will play a doubleheader at Valley Forge (0-4 CSAC, 4-8 overall) April 21.
