MORGANTOWN — Anna Argabrite made sure University High got off to a fast start in the sectional tournament Tuesday.
Argabrite drove in five runs, as the Hawks pounded out 21 hits on their way to a 25-1 victory against Preston High.
The Hawks (14-9) scored 11 runs in the fourth inning alone to secure a spot in the next round of the double-elimination tournament. UHS will host Bridgeport at 5 p.m. Wednesday, while the Knights will travel to Buckhannon-Upshur in an elimination game.
Despite the one-sided result, it was the Knights who got on the board to open the scoring in the first inning on an error by the Hawks infield. That would be the only offense that PHS would be able to come up with, only earning one hit throughout the game.
UHS pitcher Kelsey Park only allowed one hit through five innings, allowing one run and earning eight strikeouts.
The Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the first when Argabrite scored on groundball to the shortstop. The lead would taken after Ally Jansen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring the run from third. UHS wouldn’t look back after that.
Four more runs followed the two that gave the Hawks the lead as they led 6-1 after the first inning.
Five more runs came in the bottom of the second inning to extend the lead to 11-1, then 14-1 after the third.
Not only were the bats of the Hawks hot, but their gloves also. The UHS defense made multiple plays on hard-hit groundballs to keep the Knights at bay. In the end however, the baserunning and patience of UHS is what secured the victory.
“We have worked hard in practice with some new drills on bat control,” UHS head coach Mindy Parks said. “We also worked on staying back and waiting on the ball the past few weeks and it is definitely working. They have learned to go with the pitch more. The girls are getting timely hits when we need them.”
Box score
University (14-9)
Argabrite 4 2 3 5 Heitmann 5 2 2 3 Jansen 3 3 3 0 Alexander 2 2 1 2 Huebsch 4 4 3 2 Stemple 1 1 0 0 Yocum 1 2 1 1 Spadafore 4 2 1 1 Riffle 0 2 0 1 Conrad 2 1 2 3 Weaver3 2 2 2 Park 3 2 3 4 Barnhart 2 0 0 0
Preston Knights
Owens 2 0 0 0 Miller 2 1 1 0 Myers 2 0 0 0 Carrico 2 0 0 0 Wilson 2 0 0 0 Bolyard 2 0 0 0 Wilt 2 0 0 0 Smith 2 0 0 0 Friend 2 0 0 0
Baseball
Lewis County 9, University 8
Scoring five runs in the fifth inning, Lewis County stormed back from a 7-4 deficit to hold off University High.
Luke Davidson had three hits and drove in a run to lead the Minutemen and Trenton Hun picked up the win in relief.
Aaron Forbes had two hits, including a home run and had two RBIs for the Hawks and Duke Seggie added two hits, including a double.
Boys’ lacrosse
University 15, Preston 3
Collin Carey scored six goals and Collin Montgomery had three goal and an assist to lead the Hawks.
Colton Walls and Jacob Himes each had two goals for UHS (9-2) and goalkeeper Daniel Phillips had three saves.
