MORGANTOWN — University softball freshman pitcher Maddie Campbell followed her no-hitter performance one game ago with a one-hit shutout on Wednesday that helped her team capture the Class AAA Region 1, Section 2 championship over Bridgeport 7-0.
The Hawks (24-5) held a 2-0 advantage entering the bottom of the sixth inning in a game that saw some very strong defensive play by both clubs. But a five-run sixth inning swelled the lead for the hosts and secured them a well-earned victory at Mylan Park.
The Hawks will now move on to the Region 1 championship series against John Marshall in a best-of-three series.
“The best thing this team has done all season is adjusting,” UHS head coach Mindy Parks said after the game. “We came out a little flat at the plate and struggled to adjust today but we finally did in that sixth inning by waiting on that pitch and we made it happen. They weren’t being patient or finding the barrel. I tried to tell them to just wait an extra second and find the ball.”
Ally Jansen listened to the words of her coach and found the ball for a single to begin the sixth inning of offense for the Hawks. Bree Royce followed with a single of her own that scored the third run for UHS. Jansen scored to make the score 4-0 on the next play when an error by BHS allowed a run in.
Anna Argabrite and Olivia Masoner each added RBI in the bottom of the sixth as well to extend the UHS lead to 7-0, the same score they would win the game by.
Campbell allowed only one run and earned 13 strikeouts. She didn’t walk a batter.
“I trust my defense so much,” Campbell said. “I just try to come out and hit my spots and throw strikes and not put unnecessary pressure on my defense giving runners easy bases or anything.”
The Hawks advance to the regional series with a roster full of youth, led by veterans like senior Lauren Huebsch.
“We have a young team but we are talented and we aren’t finished,” Huebcsh said. “We are on to regionals and our goal is to make it to states. As a senior, it’s a great opportunity and I love playing with the freshman and the group on this team. I have full faith in everyone.”
UHS will host JM in game one of the Region 1 championship series. First pitch will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
University 7, Bridgeport 0
BHS 000 000 0 – 0 1 3
UHS 110 005 X – 7 9 1
University – Campbell 4210, Argabrite 2011, Masoner 4022, Huebsch 3001, Lehosit 4100, Weaver 4000, Jansen 3220, Royce 3121, Park 3112
Bridgeport – Mason 3010, Pethel 3000, Garner 3000, Pugh 3000, Archer 3000, Hamrick 2000, Veigel 2000, Anderson 2000, Stallman 2000
WP – Campbell 7.0ip 1h 0r 0b 13k
LP – Pethtel 6.0ip 9h 7r 2bb 2k
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