UNITED STANDS WITH THEIR SENIORS

HANOVERTON OH-  United clawed their way back and held off Southern Local for a 6-4 win on Monday during their senior night, thanks to a clutch third-inning rally and solid relief pitching down the stretch.

Southern jumped out fast with a two-run single from Cheyenne Buzzard in the top of the first, but United answered right back. Brittany Miller knocked in one on a groundout, and Josie Wargo lifted a sac fly to even things at 2-2.

Southern punched back in the second with an RBI groundout from Gianna Pecorelli and a run-scoring single from Kennedy Lewis to take a 4-2 lead. But that was all the damage they’d do.

In the bottom of the third, United flipped the switch. Miller dropped a single down the right field line, Grace Coffee followed with one down the left side, then Allyson Lacey ripped a double, and Caitlyn Roller grounded out to cap a four-run inning that gave United the lead for good.

Payten Kekel came in and shut it down from there. She tossed 2.2 innings of one-hit ball, fanned four, and kept the Indians off the board to pick up the W. Jillian Dietrich got the start for United, while Addy Martin took the loss for Southern after giving up seven hits and six runs in four frames.

Coffee was locked in at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Lacey and Wargo chipped in RBIs of their own. Callie Koons made some noise on the basepaths with a pair of steals, and the Golden Eagles stayed patient at the plate, drawing five free passes.

For Southern, Buzzard led the way with a 2-RBI knock, and six different players picked up hits in the loss. They also turned a double play in the field.

United gets another shot at Southern next week at home—expect more fireworks in round two.