EVANS AND HER DEFENSE TIE UP TOP OF MVAC

MCDONALD OH-  It was a pitcher’s duel Thursday night, but McDonald came out on top, blanking Mineral Ridge 3-0 behind a lights-out performance from Aubrey Evans.

Evans was in full control from the jump, mowing down 10 Rams and scattering just four hits over seven shutout innings. The righty didn’t flinch, walking three but never letting Ridge string anything together.

McDonald scratched a run across in the first thanks to a productive out from Sophia Pecchia. That early lead held up, but the Devils tacked on a couple more for insurance. Addison Grewell and Marissa Colarich each knocked in runs, and leadoff spark plug Miley Titus set the tone with two hits.

The Devils backed Evans with clean defense, turning a double play and keeping the stat sheet error-free. Grewell was busy at second, handling 10 chances like a vet.

Mineral Ridge got knocks from Savannah Turek, Laney Rigley, Maddie Gerberry, and Lily Merolillo, who also went four solid innings in the circle. Sullivan Sandy added a pair of swipes on the basepaths, but the Rams couldn’t crack Evans.

McDonald hits the road Friday to take on Hubbard, while Ridge gets a breather before heading to Jackson-Milton on Monday.