Sacred Heart plated 13-run in the fourth inning to secure a 20-13 run-rule win on Friday night’s game against Resurrection Catholic.
The difference in the night was pitching efficiency. Resurrection’s pitching struggled to get balls across the plate as the Eagles walked 20 batters on the night.
“Kate and Sara Gallardo kept preaching to just be patient at the plate,” Sacred Heart coach Laura Coulter said. “Wait until you get the first pitch (or) first strike. Don’t always swing at your first pitch because we have a terrible habit of wanting to swing at the first pitch.”
Sacred Heart’s base running took advantage of Resurrection’s inefficient pitching, but its offense managed to keep the Eagle afloat.
In the first inning, the Eagles got on the board with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Lady Crusader scored two runs by stealing home twice and then added a third run from an RBI from Gracie Falla to take a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Crusader scored two more runs in the second inning to extend its lead to 5-1. Resurrection answered in the third inning with a two-run RBI double and a two-run RBI single to tie the game 5-5.
Sacred Heart (3-3, 2-0 1A Region 8) stayed ahead by scoring two more runs but the Eagles’ offense-maintained momentum with a seven-run inning. Resurrection took the lead with a two-run double and extended its lead to 12-7 from a grand slam.
But while Resurrection’s offense found life, its pitching faltered. Sacred Heart reached base 11 times from the Eagles’ pitching staff, which scored five of the 13 runs. According to Coulter the inning was still frustrating as Sacred Heart managed to score just one of its’ runs from a hit.
“When you have a pitcher like that, we are scooting up in the box, trying to keep our hands back and doing everything we can, and nothing was generating,” Coulter said. When we were getting hits, we were out in front of it or reaching for it. When you can’t capitalize on (hits), then you have to slow the game down, force them pitch to you, take your walks when you can get them to score some runs, and we had good base running.”
Coulter credited Sophie Suter with helping secure the win as she stepped in the circle in relief of starting pitcher Kate Gallardo.
Gallardo allowed 10 runs off six hits, walked four batters and struck out in 3.1 innings. Suter allowed three runs off two hits, struck out two batters and hit one batter in her relief.
“We actually came back and took care of business,” Coulter said. “We put Suter in, and she did her part. She actually pitched against East Marion and won, and she pitched a great game. She stepped up as a ninth-grader that had never played varsity before.”
For Coulter, the biggest takeaway from the night is playing better defense being able to adjust in the batter’s box.
“We have to be a little bit more patient at the plate and work the pitcher a little bit, especially when they are struggling pitching,” Coulter said. We let them have their way with us on offense up until the last inning.”
Sacred Heart will travel to play Resurrection Catholic on March 23.
Sacred Heart plated 13-run in the fourth inning to secure a 20-13 run-rule win on Friday night’s game against Resurrection Catholic.
The difference in the night was pitching efficiency. Resurrection’s pitching struggled to get balls across the plate as the Eagles walked 20 batters on the night.
“Kate and Sara Gallardo kept preaching to just be patient at the plate,” Sacred Heart coach Laura Coulter said. “Wait until you get the first pitch (or) first strike. Don’t always swing at your first pitch because we have a terrible habit of wanting to swing at the first pitch.”
Sacred Heart’s base running took advantage of Resurrection’s inefficient pitching, but its offense managed to keep the Eagle afloat.
In the first inning, the Eagles got on the board with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Lady Crusader scored two runs by stealing home twice and then added a third run from an RBI from Gracie Falla to take a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Crusader scored two more runs in the second inning to extend its lead to 5-1. Resurrection answered in the third inning with a two-run RBI double and a two-run RBI single to tie the game 5-5.
Sacred Heart (3-3, 2-0 1A Region 8) stayed ahead by scoring two more runs but the Eagles’ offense-maintained momentum with a seven-run inning. Resurrection took the lead with a two-run double and extended its lead to 12-7 from a grand slam.
But while Resurrection’s offense found life, its pitching faltered. Sacred Heart reached base 11 times from the Eagles’ pitching staff, which scored five of the 13 runs. According to Coulter the inning was still frustrating as Sacred Heart managed to score just one of its’ runs from a hit.
“When you have a pitcher like that, we are scooting up in the box, trying to keep our hands back and doing everything we can, and nothing was generating,” Coulter said. When we were getting hits, we were out in front of it or reaching for it. When you can’t capitalize on (hits), then you have to slow the game down, force them pitch to you, take your walks when you can get them to score some runs, and we had good base running.”
Coulter credited Sophie Suter with helping secure the win as she stepped in the circle in relief of starting pitcher Kate Gallardo.
Gallardo allowed 10 runs off six hits, walked four batters and struck out in 3.1 innings. Suter allowed three runs off two hits, struck out two batters and hit one batter in her relief.
“We actually came back and took care of business,” Coulter said. “We put Suter in, and she did her part. She actually pitched against East Marion and won, and she pitched a great game. She stepped up as a ninth-grader that had never played varsity before.”
For Coulter, the biggest takeaway from the night is playing better defense being able to adjust in the batter’s box.
“We have to be a little bit more patient at the plate and work the pitcher a little bit, especially when they are struggling pitching,” Coulter said. We let them have their way with us on offense up until the last inning.”
Sacred Heart will travel to play Resurrection Catholic on March 23.
Sacred Heart plated 13-run in the fourth inning to secure a 20-13 run-rule win on Friday night’s game against Resurrection Catholic.
The difference in the night was pitching efficiency. Resurrection’s pitching struggled to get balls across the plate as the Eagles walked 20 batters on the night.
“Kate and Sara Gallardo kept preaching to just be patient at the plate,” Sacred Heart coach Laura Coulter said. “Wait until you get the first pitch (or) first strike. Don’t always swing at your first pitch because we have a terrible habit of wanting to swing at the first pitch.”
Sacred Heart’s base running took advantage of Resurrection’s inefficient pitching, but its offense managed to keep the Eagle afloat.
In the first inning, the Eagles got on the board with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Lady Crusader scored two runs by stealing home twice and then added a third run from an RBI from Gracie Falla to take a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Crusader scored two more runs in the second inning to extend its lead to 5-1. Resurrection answered in the third inning with a two-run RBI double and a two-run RBI single to tie the game 5-5.
Sacred Heart (3-3, 2-0 1A Region 8) stayed ahead by scoring two more runs but the Eagles’ offense-maintained momentum with a seven-run inning. Resurrection took the lead with a two-run double and extended its lead to 12-7 from a grand slam.
But while Resurrection’s offense found life, its pitching faltered. Sacred Heart reached base 11 times from the Eagles’ pitching staff, which scored five of the 13 runs. According to Coulter the inning was still frustrating as Sacred Heart managed to score just one of its’ runs from a hit.
“When you have a pitcher like that, we are scooting up in the box, trying to keep our hands back and doing everything we can, and nothing was generating,” Coulter said. When we were getting hits, we were out in front of it or reaching for it. When you can’t capitalize on (hits), then you have to slow the game down, force them pitch to you, take your walks when you can get them to score some runs, and we had good base running.”
Coulter credited Sophie Suter with helping secure the win as she stepped in the circle in relief of starting pitcher Kate Gallardo.
Gallardo allowed 10 runs off six hits, walked four batters and struck out in 3.1 innings. Suter allowed three runs off two hits, struck out two batters and hit one batter in her relief.
“We actually came back and took care of business,” Coulter said. “We put Suter in, and she did her part. She actually pitched against East Marion and won, and she pitched a great game. She stepped up as a ninth-grader that had never played varsity before.”
For Coulter, the biggest takeaway from the night is playing better defense being able to adjust in the batter’s box.
“We have to be a little bit more patient at the plate and work the pitcher a little bit, especially when they are struggling pitching,” Coulter said. We let them have their way with us on offense up until the last inning.”
Sacred Heart will travel to play Resurrection Catholic on March 23.
