Holland's Liner Pushes Greylock Past Hoosac

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass — In a battle of who could get the last word in, Sierra Holland's bat spoke the loudest. 

The senior third baseman on the Mount Greylock softball team hit a soft liner up the middle to score a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Mounties a 7-6 walk-off win over Hoosac Valley on Wednesday night. Holland's hit capped off a three-run ninth inning for Greylock, which fell behind 6-4 when the Hurricanes scored twice in the top half of the frame. 

Sophomore Kendal Frye started things off in the ninth with a walk. Classmate Meredith Dezieck then followed with a single before senior Michaela DiNicola (2 for 4) brought a run home with a base hit of her own. With runners on second and third base and two outs, Holland lined a pitch from Hoosac starter Alexis Bushika back up the middle to give the Mounties the win and improve their record to 2-0 this year. 

"It was a great effort by both teams and a great game," Greylock head coach June Blake said. "We were unable to push a run across in the bottom of the seventh and the game remained tied until Hoosac took the lead in the top of ninth. I was happy with the way we kept battling even after going down by two runs. Heather [Tomkowicz] pitched a great game from the mound, keeping batters off balance and walking only four. We also played solid defense to back her up." 

Tomkowicz earned her second win of the week by allowing three earned runs on 10 hits. She struck out 11 Hurricanes while also going 2 for 5 from the plate. Bushika also had a solid day pitching against the same team in which she made 18 starts for a season ago. The former Greylock hurler allowed five earned runs on nine hits against her old team, striking out five and walking two. 

Bushika also went 2 for 5 from the plate and had an RBI single in a three-run fifth inning when the visitors started to claw their way back from a 4-0 deficit. Senior catcher Caitie Benoit (2 for 3) gave the Mounties an early lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. The hosts scored two more times in the fourth inning to go up 4-0 before Hoosac's rally in the top of the fifth. Junior Ashley Ciepiela went 2 for 5 with two key RBI for the Hurricanes, one of which tied the game in the top of seventh. Classmate Tori Rumbolt also had a strong debut, going 2 for 3 with two walks and three runs batted in. Rumbolt gave Hoosac the lead with an RBI triple in the top of the ninth before Ciepiela knocked her home to give the 'Canes a 6-4 advantage. 

"Tori had a great day today," Hoosac head coach Morgan Shafer said. "She was a leader in the field making plays when we needed her to. It was our first game and, defensively, we still have some things to work out. But we made some good plays, and I definitely saw some good things. I definitely saw some things we need to work on as well. Greylock put the ball in play and made us work today. We did the same for them. They came out on top today, but it was a good game and good experience on both sides."

Senior Sabrina Sommer also went 2 for 5 with a pair of hits and two runs scored for the Hurricanes, who next play Mount Everett at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The Mounties next play at Rutland at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. 
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