RAMS ABLE TO HOLD ON FOR THRILLING FIRST WIN

Mineral Ridge got out to a 6-run lead in the fifth inning and held on for a 9-8 victory over Waterloo on Monday. Waterloo closed the gap by scoring on a single, a single, a fielder’s choice, and a double.

The Rams were the first to get on the board in the first when Aaliyah Wall doubled, scoring one run. They added one run in the second after Waterloo committed an error.

Waterloo took the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the third thanks to two errors. Mineral Ridge flipped the game on its head in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on six hits to take a 7-3 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Maddie Gerberry that drove in three.

Lily Merolillo earned the win for Mineral Ridge. The starting pitcher gave up six hits and eight runs (five earned over seven innings, striking out 11 and walking five.

The Rams tallied 12 hits in the game. Gerberry drove the middle of the lineup, leading them with three runs batted in. She went 2-for-4 on the day. Laney Rigley, Megan Haynie, Wall, Gerberry, Savannah Turk, and Merolillo each collected two hits. Mineral Ridge had a strong eye at the plate, tallying eight walks for the game. Sullivan Sandy and Turek led the team with two walks each.