Mohawk Slides By Hoosac In The Sixth
ADAMS, Mass — A tough start to the season got a little tougher for the Hoosac Valley softball team, which gave up five runs to Mohawk in the top of the sixth inning to lose 7-6 at home on Friday.The Hurricanes (0-6) led for most of the game, taking a quick 2-0 lead after the first inning of play. After a pair of walks to start the inning, the hosts scored one run on a fielder's choice by junior Tori Rumbolt. Classmate Ashley Ciepiela then added a second run with an RBI single, giving Hoosac starter Alexis Bushika a nice cushion to work with right out of the gate.
Ciepiela finished with two RBI on the day, while Rumbolt went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one run batted in. Bushika then increased the 'Canes lead to 3-0 by singling and scoring off of an error in the third frame, but the Warriors quickly answered by scoring single runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
Things were looking pretty good for Hoosac when Rumbolt added another run by scoring off of a Caroline Tomkowicz single in the bottom of the fifth. That gave the Hurricanes a 4-2 lead, one which would quickly evaporate in the top of the sixth. After Bushika allowed a pair of hits to start the frame, Mohawk took advantage of three Hoosac errors to score five times and take a 7-4 lead. Tomkowicz came on in relief and shut the Warriors down after that, striking out three in her two innings of work, but the damage was too much to overcome.
The Hurricanes scored a run each in both the sixth and seventh innings to pull within one, but they could never get the game-tying hit they needed, leaving a pair of runners on to end the game. Bushika pitched well in her third start of the season, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. She struck out eight and walked just two batters to take the loss. Bushika also performed well at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, walk and a stolen base.
Hoosac will get it another try for its first win of the season on Monday, when it hosts St. Joe's at 4 p.m.