RECAP >> Mired in a four-game losing streak and in desperate need of win, the Emmaus girls softball team responded with arguably their best game of the season yesterday as they took out their frustrations on the road at Nazareth.
The Hornets blasted a season-high three home runs, pounded out 14 hits and backed by an outstanding effort in the circle from staff ace senior Danica Barthol, Emmaus rolled to a 13-2 five-inning, mercy-rule win over a pretty good Blue Eagles team that entered play with a 5-2 overall record and riding a three-game win streak.
The win was the first for the Hornets (4-4 overall/3-3 EPC) since an 11-1 victory over East Stroudsburg South on March 29 and to say it was needed would be, well, a huge understatement.
“So badly,” said Barthol of picking up the win. “I think we all were getting down on ourselves, but today we came together as team and we figured it out and this is exactly what we needed.”
“Over the past couple of days it’s been hard and we collectively talked about working together as a team and just coming together as one and making sure the energy is up and I think this was the best effort we’ve had this season and I’m really proud of all of us,” she added.
Barthol’s head coach, Rich Giering, echoed his pitcher’s sentiments.
“We needed this a lot,” said the second year head coach of the win. “We had a couple of tough losses and the hitting has really been there. On the bus ride over today, I could just feel that we had a little bit more intensity. We got off to a good start and we beat a good Nazareth team.”
Barthol was one of three Hornets with a home run on the day and her second HR of the season, a three-run blast over the left centerfield fence in the second inning broke a 2-2 tie and put Emmaus ahead for good.
Senior catcher Mason Roselli also had a home run in the game, a two-run shot in the third inning part of her 2-for-4 three RBI day, and senior second baseman Daria Krout also went yard with a two-run homer in the fifth.
“These girls are capable of what went on here today,” said a happy Giering. “The biggest thing we just needed was a little bit more intensity. Yesterday (a 2-0 loss to Northampton) I thought we were really, really flat and today was just a different attitude and I’m hoping this game will carry over.”
Every Emmaus starter had at least one hit in the victory. Senior center fielder Shayla Morgan had a game-high three hits and scored four times, freshman first baseman Abby Dear had two hits and junior second baseman Bri Amy also had a pair of hits.
In the circle, Barthol gave up two runs in the first inning but then settled down and didn’t allow a run the rest of the way. The right-hander scattered eights hits while striking out six.
Nazareth had its three-game win streak snapped and dropped to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the EPC with the loss. The Blue Eagles were led on offense by sophomore catcher Shauna McNamee who went 3-for-3 and classmate, center fielder Natalie Chloros who had two hits, including an inside-the-park solo home run in the bottom of the first.
Emmaus will return to action at 2 p.m. on Monday as they travel to Dieruff.
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Emmaus 13, Nazareth 2
Em – 243 04 – 13-14-0
Na – 200 00 – 2-8-5
Em – Danica Barthol and Mason Roselli; Naz – Avery Kauffman, Natalie Chloros (3), Sydney Harper ( 4) and Shauna McNamee. W – Barthol, LP – Kauffman. HR – Em: Barthol (2nd, 2 on), Roselli (3rd, 1 on), Krout (5th, 2 on); Naz: Chloros (1st, solo)