WARRIORS NEED EVERY BIT OF EARLY LEAD

ALLIANCE OH-  West Branch built a big lead and needed every bit of it Wednesday night, fending off a late surge from Marlington to secure a 9-7 win.

The Warriors came out swinging, jumping ahead in the first when Addi Craven drove in a pair with a base knock. Marlington chipped away with a solo homer in the third and then took a 3-2 lead in the fourth after launching another shot—this one a two-run blast to center.

But West Branch wasn’t rattled. They blew the game wide open in the fifth, stringing together six hits in a seven-run inning that flipped the script. The biggest punch came on a two-run single by Mati Hawk that helped make it 9-3.

Klary McKay handled most of the work in the circle, fanning 12 over six innings while giving up 10 hits and seven runs—only six earned. Ellie Tucker came in late to slam the door and earn the save.

At the dish, the Warriors matched Marlington with 10 hits. McKay, Craven, and Carly Loper each collected two knocks, and Hawk, McKay, and Craven all drove in a pair. Craven added two stolen bags as West Branch swiped four in total.

Marlington didn’t go quietly, putting up four late runs thanks to a mix of singles and doubles. They racked up six steals of their own and had a few hitters with multiple hits and RBIs, but it wasn’t enough to erase the deficit. West Branch moves on to face Alliance on Thursday, looking to keep the momentum rolling.