Mount sophomore Paige Parisi pitched the whole way against Nazareth last week and hit a game-winning two-run double in the seventh inning. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

by Tom Utescher

Trailing by two runs after five innings last Thursday at Nazareth Academy, visiting Mount St. Joseph scored once in the sixth and twice in the seventh to pull out a 4-3 Catholic Academies softball victory.

Due to the generally poor weather this spring season, it was only the fourth official game for each of the two schools; the Mount Magic got back to .500 at 2-2, while the previously unbeaten Nazareth Pandas slipped to 3-1.

Sophomore Paige Parisi went the distance for Mount St. Joe in the circle, recording five strike-outs while giving up three walks and five hits. For Nazareth, Devyn Dydak (4K, 2BB, 9H) also pitched the full game.

The Magic are playing under a new head coach who is not new to the Mount softball program. Mike Leinheiser had been an assistant coach for the Magic for the previous five seasons, and his daughter Jen played on the team, graduating in 2015.

As MSJ batters started off last Thursday’s contest, a single by Parisi and a walk to junior Kailyn Muhl helped the visitors position runners on second and third with two outs, but a ground-out left them stranded.

In the bottom half, a two-out rally by Nazareth was a little more productive. With runners on first and second through a pair of singles, the Pandas got another base hit, this one to right centerfield. The Magic got the ball home in time for freshman catcher Claire Moxey (a Norwood Fontbonne Academy grad) to tag out the second baserunner, but the first one had scored from second to give the home team a 1-0 edge.

That score stayed on the board through the second frame, then the Magic once again generated a little activity with two outs when they came to bat in the top of the third. Sophomore Jill Baum poked a single to right field, stole second and then scored when Parisi pounded a double just over the head of the centerfielder.

The 1-1 tie lasted until the home half of the fifth inning. Here is where Parisi and her defense hit a rough patch; two walks followed by two MSJ errors aided the Pandas in scoring a pair of runs for a 3-1 lead.

Sophomore Natalie Sheridan lays down a bunt for Mount St. Joseph. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

The Mounties didn’t panic, but got to work in the top of the sixth after their first batter popped out. Muhl singled to right and then went around to third as junior Lily Doyle put the ball in play and reached first on a Nazareth error.

Moxey also got her bat on the ball, and when the Pandas tried to tag Muhl between third base and home, the third baseman was called for interference. Muhl was put back safe on third, and the visitors had the bases loaded. Sophomore Natalie Sheridan flew out to shallow right, but the outfielder fell after making the catch and Mount St. Joe got a run home from third.

A ground-out retired the side and the Magic, within one run of the leaders at 3-2, went back into the field for the bottom of the sixth and got Nazareth out in order on three ground balls.

The top of the seventh started out well for the Mount, as junior Taylor Chandler came in to hit and lined a single over the shortstop. McMahon then reentered and went to first as the runner, soon moving to second as senior Lila Moore sacrificed herself on a bunt.

With Baum drawing a walk, the Magic now had two baserunners, and when Parisi slammed the ball deep to centerfield both of them came home to give the Mounties the lead, 4-3. Sophomore Olivia Nace came in to run for the MSJ pitcher, and got to third when Muhl doubled to center.

The Magic weren’t able to reinforce their lead since a strike-out and a ground-out followed, but they’d moved ahead and now needed just three outs on the Pandas to wrap up the win.

The first batter for the home side grounded out to the second baseman, McMahon, and the second one waited out a walk. Next, a well-hit line drive zoomed out into center field, but MSJ’s Moore calmly caught the ball for the second out. The shortstop, Sheridan, then grabbed a ground ball and threw to first to end the game for a Magic victory.