Albion rallies late to nip Batavia

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion starting pitcher Kelsee Soule tries to tag out Batavia’s Ryann Stefaniak at home during the host Purple Eagles win this afternoon.

Putting together a late innings rally, Albion edged past visiting Batavia 6-5 this afternoon in a season opening non league softball game.

Trailing 5-3, Albion pulled even by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI triple by Isabella Prest and a wild pitch. A single by Natalie DiCureia and an error ignited the rally.

The Purple Eagles then scored the game winner in the seventh as Kelsee Soule walked, advanced on a single by Olivia Prest and came home on a wild pitch.

Allbion, which trailed until the sixth inning, also scored once in the first on an error, once in the third on a home run by Meghan Hurley and once in the fourth on a double by Kassidy Hastings.

Meghan Hurley, who hurled the final four frames, delivers at pitch for Albion.

The Albion defense also came up big to blank Batavia in three of the last four innings.

In the fourth inning, the Purple Eagles got runners out at third and home on nice plays by Olivia Prest at catcher and Soule at shortstop.

Then in the sixth, Albion got out of a bases loaded jam without giving up a run on a strikeout by Hurley and a pop out to Ashley Bocach at first base.

Hurley, who pitched the final four frames, then got Batavia out in order in the top of the seventh on groundouts first to Soule at short, then to Bocach at first and finally to Ellen Narburgh at third base.

Soule hurled the first three innings for Albion which will host Lockport in a scrimmage on Wednesday and Aquinas in a game on Friday.

Albion’s Ashley Bocach slides into second base on a steal ahead of the throw as Alaina Bowman (7) and Taylor Stefaniak (1) defend for Batavia.