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Irish power, speed too much for Eagles
Barbato’s 4-for-4 performance ignites 14-hit Ursuline offensive attack
By BOB ETTINGER
YOUNGSTOWN
Ursuline softball coach Michael Kernan has an offense capable of playing the long game, which is quite the asset in its own right.
On the heels of the Fighting Irish’s short-game capability, it can be downright dangerous, as was on display in a 13-3 victory over Hubbard in five innings at Covelli Sports Complex on Thursday.
“We can hit with power,” Kernan said. “But like I said, we’ve got some speed. It’s a nice combination to have on the team.”
Kernan used that combination well as the Fighting Irish (5-0) amassed 14 hits in scoring in four consecutive innings after falling behind, 2-0, in the top of the first.
“We kept our composure,” Kernan said. “We didn’t get nervous. Hubbard got a nice two-run first. Our girls came back and had a nice inning [in the second]. We did it with small ball. We had a couple of nice bunts, we ran the bases well and sprinkled some clutch hits in there.”
The Eagles (4-2) opened the contest with a single from Alexis Najdusak, who took second when the ball scooted past an outfielder. Two batters later, Grace Narkum sent the ball out of the park for a 2-0 lead.
A double from Emily Holland and an RBI single from Jenna O’Hara broke the seal for Ursuline in the second.
“The first couple of games, I felt like I was in a slump,” O’Hara said. “I wasn’t getting hold of the ball the way I should. Today, it helped I was going up there relaxed and with a positive attitude. I was seeing the ball and hitting the ball.”
The Fighting Irish broke it open with five runs in the third. Maris Barbato, Alyssa Sheeley, Destiny Goodnight and Gia Caldrone all reached on singles with nobody out. Sheeley and Goodnight bunted their way on and Goodnight and Caldrone each drove in runs.
“They used a little small ball on us,” Hubbard coach Joe Zagorec said. “We made a few mental mistakes and they turned the tide a bit. We were hitting the ball quite well, but they were making plays. One thing we’re working on is mental toughness and confidence. The mental part of the game is 90 percent of the game and it’s something we need to work on. I’m very pleased with my girls. We’re a very young team.”
Emily Holland had a run-scoring triple, Emma Ericson had a sacrifice fly and Julia Nutter’s groundout plated another run in the inning.
“They’re a young squad and we tried to make them make plays,” Kernan said. “It definitely worked in our favor.”
Barbato singled and scored in the fourth before the Fighting Irish broke out the power bats in the fifth.
“I had so much more confidence once I hit the grounder to the outfield,” Barbato said. “I knew I could do it in my second, third and fourth at-bats. Once someone gets a hit, everyone is cheering and and it transfers to everyone else, one, two, three, four and all the down to nine.”
Barbato tripled in a run, Sheeley doubled and scored on a double from Goodnight. Nutter doubled in a run O’Hara ended the game with a run-scoring groundout.
Ericson allowed four hits and struck out three in the win.
Barbato had four hits and Holland, Sheeley and Goodnight each had two.
Najdusak doubled twice for the Eagles.