RECAP >> Visiting Northampton banged out 11 hits and took advantage of four errors by Emmaus as the Konkrete Kids spoiled the home-opener for the Hornets handing them a 7-4 setback on Thursday afternoon at Kiwanis Field.
Both teams entered the early-season contest undefeated (2-0), but it was only Northampton remaining that way at the end of the day as they did all their damage against Emmaus in the middle innings in giving the Hornets their first loss of the season.
“If we didn’t have those errors it would have made the game a whole lot different,’ said Emmaus second year head coach Brittany D’Agostino. We just got nervous and we were paying attention to the runners that were on base instead of focusing on the ball and getting outs.
“We also needed to hit the ball better,” she added. ” We left 12 baserunners out there today.”
Northampton (2-0 EPC, 3-0 overall) led from start to finish as they jumped all over Emmaus starter senior Hannah Palinkas for three runs in both the third and fourth innings. Palinkas suffered her first loss of the season as she gave up six runs on nine hits in just four innings of work.
The K-Kids led 3-0 after a three-run third inning before the Hornets battled back to get within one at 3-2 in the bottom of the frame on a bases-loaded walk issued to Palinkas, the team’s No.3 hitter, and a RBI single from freshman shortstop Marah Sisonick.
The lead grew to 6-2 in the fourth as Northampton used another three-run inning, taking advantage of fielding miscues by Emmaus and consecutive RBI singles from sophomore third baseman Kendyll Strohl, junior center fielder Jordan Geroulo and junior catcher Madison Fraley.
Geroulo wound up going 3-for-4 with two RBI, Fraley added two hits and drove in two runs and senior first baseman Hannah Boggs also had two hits.
Sophomore shortstop Katelyn Stuhldreher went 2-for-4 and senior left fielder Nikki Secara, the team’s No.9 hitter, scored three runs in the game.
“They are aggressive and they’ve always been aggressive at the plate,” said D’Agostino of Northampton. “They are not going to sit back and watch pitches. They will certainly be team to watch out for this year.”
Starting pitcher junior Madison Biechy went the distance and picked up the win for the K-Kids, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four. The hard-throwing right-hander did struggle with wildness, issuing seven walks and hitting a batter.
Emmaus’ offense was led by junior left fielder Tatum Kresley who went 3-for-4. Palinkas, sophomore second baseman Maddie Bruns and freshman right fielder Peyton Sisonick each had one hit and drove in one run in the game.
The Hornets will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season on Friday at 4:15 p.m. as they travel to Hazleton for a non-league game.
North – 003 310 0 – 7-11-0
Emm – 002 100 1 – 4-7-4
Madison Biechy and Maddie Fraley. Hannah Palinkas, Tatum Kresley (5) and Abby Bartels.
WP – Biechy; LP – Palinkas (2-1)
2B – Palinkas (Em), 3B – Boggs (No). Errors – Kresley, Bruns, Carly Anderson, Marah Sisonick