WNT: Red evens series with 11-5 win
Langoni leads Red team to victory with three hits
"Today, overall was a much better day," remarked manager Ruben Felix. "We felt like the pitchers threw a lot more strikes and were in the zone more. The hitters stayed back and really drove some balls. Defensively, we made some good plays in the outfield and diving plays on the infield. Overall execution on the bases, we were a lot better. It was a great positive day."
Similar to the first scrimmage, the Blue team jumped out to an early lead as it pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first. Donna Williams continued her impressive trials with a two-run single to get the scoring started. Two batters later, Williams crossed home for a 3-0 lead.
The Red bats came to life in the third inning as it pushed across four runs to take its first lead of the series. With the bases full, Ashley Langoni stepped to the plate and delivered a single to center field to make it a 3-1 game. Red inched closer on a base hit by Tamara Holmes and tied the game on a bases-loaded walk to Makenzie Vandergeest. A wild pitch gave the Red squad a 4-3 lead.
Anna Kimbrell and Stacy Piagno pitched four scoreless innings to keep the Red squad in front, 4-3. Kimbrell was helped by a running catch by Langoni in right to end the fourth inning with the bases loaded.
Blue finally got the game tied at four in the bottom of the seventh inning. A leadoff walk to Natalie Land and a one-out error proved costly. With one out, Land swiped third base and came home to score on the error.
The teams traded runs in the ninth inning to push the score to 5-5. Caitlin Everett worked a lead-off walk and moved to second on a base hit by Langoni. A two-out wild pitch advanced the runners 90 feet and a balk gave the Red team a 5-4 lead.
Blue struck back in the bottom of the frame to tie the game. Land reached on an infield single and eventually scored on a Bessie Noll base hit to right.
After a scoreless 10th inning, Red broke the game open with a six-run top of the 11th. With one out, five straight batters reached base as Red opened up a 7-5 lead. An error in the outfield allowed Langoni to score the go-ahead run. Daniella Ibarra extended the lead with a base hit to right and Jane Uh gave Red a three-run cushion with a sacrifice fly. Tawny Swan drew a bases loaded walk, Everett single and Langoni was hit by a pitch to drive in the final three runs of the game.
The coaching staff saw 11 pitchers on the mound in the contest.
Kristen Caldwell got the start for Blue and tossed two scoreless innings. Alexa Maldonado and Donna Williams each pitched two scoreless innings. Lacy Wood allowed four runs, three earned, in two innings, while Meggie Meidlinger surrendered one run and struck out two in two innings. Elizabeth Worley gave up just one earned run in her one inning of work.
Marti Sementelli started for Red and gave up three runs in two innings. Kimbrell and Piagno each threw two scoreless frames, and Jen Hunter gave up an unearned run in her two innings. Clarisa Navarro gave up one run in her two innings.
The trials continue Tuesday morning with a practice session at the University of Utah. The teams will take a break from scrimmage play Tuesday afternoon and instead will take part in a team-building exercise.
