STAC SOFTBALL: OWEGO SURVIVES ONEONTA ONSLAUGHT (2023-04-20)

Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — Owego saw a 10-1 advantage disappear in the sixth inning, but regrouped to defeat Oneonta, 11-10, in eight innings in STAC softball action Wednesday.

Miley Laubach reached second base on a one-out error, advanced to third on Maddie Bennett’s sacrifice bunt and scored the game-winning run on Maia Smith’s line drive single to right field.

The Indians scored early and often to build a 9-run cushion through four innings.

Natalie Donovan doubled in Owego’s first at-bats and scored on Morgan Francisco’s ground out.

In the second, Brooklyn Gaurnier singled and scored on a Jordan Greeno base hit, and Greeno eventually scored. Laubach doubled, Bennett walked and Laubach scored on an error off Smith’s bat, giving the Indians a 4-0 lead.

The Yellowjackets would score in the top of the third, but the Indians responded with four runs in the home half of the inning.

Francisco singled and scored on an error off the bat of Layla Etienne, who scored on an error. Carsten Crawford walked and scored on a Greeno single with two away. Greeno would reach home on a Laubach single to make it 8-1.

Owego added two more runs with two gone in the fourth. Francisco walked, Etienne doubled, Crawford singled, and Francisco and Etienne scored on an error on the play.

Oneonta came storming back in the sixth to tie the game after Owego switched pitchers, the rally being highlighted by a three-run double from Abbie Platt. The Jackets also took advantage of three singles, two walks, two hit batters, two errors, a fielder’s choice and an RBI ground out.

The Indians collected 11 hits on the day with Laubach going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and Greeno going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.

Francisco contributed a hit, two runs and an RBI; Etienne had a hit and two runs; Crawford added a hit, run and RBI; Smith chipped in with a hit and two RBI; and Donovan and Gaurnier each had a hit and a run.

Crawford picked up the win, striking out 12 while allowing two hits and one walk. She was in the circle for the first five innings then re-entered for the seventh and eighth.

Owego (2-2) hosts Susquehanna Valley (4-1) Friday.

——————

IN PHOTO 1: Owego’s Maia Smith. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.