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Herchenroder lifts Owls over unbeaten Salem

Monday, May, 16 By Kyle Gaudette

SALEM — In a battle of two of New Hampshire's best softball programs, a seemingly harmless pop fly to left field turned out to be the biggest play of the game.

Lauren Herchenroder approached the plate with one out in the top of the seventh, a runner on second and her Timberlane Owls down a run to unbeaten Salem. Herchenroder got under a pitch from Salem starter Camryn Hanninen, skying it to left where it looked as though it would be easily caught by Salem's Alexa Pacy. Forunately for the Owls a gust of wind came at the right time, sending Pacy farther and farther back until she crashed into the left field fence as the ball landed on the other side.

The homerun gave Timberlane (13-1) a 5-4 lead that they would hold onto in the bottom of the seventh, sealing the huge victory over Salem (13-1). 

"I had no idea it was going out," said Herchenroder. "I thought I hit it too high, but the wind must have took it over the fence for me."

"It kept staying up and up," said Timberlane head coach Jim Clavette. "The wind just kept it there. I was going to tell my girl on second to back up and get ready to tag because I thought for sure they were going to catch it. But then it went over. It was a great hit."

Salem got a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh, but pinch hitter Meghan O'Brien flew out to second basemen Jill Aziz for the final out.

The Owls got three runs in the top of the first inning. Ally Ruth, Amy Freeman and Kylie Fitzpatrick got three straight singles to start the game, and M.K Livingston hit a towering double to center to plate two runs a couple batters later.

After the first, Hanninen settled down for five straight 1-2-3 innings. Tmberlane got two runners on during that span, but Salem made two great defensive plays that both turned into double plays. Third basemen Ashley Conway made a diving catch on a liner with one out in the sixth, and second basemen Brooke Murphy stretched to make a nice catch on a pop-up in the third. 

"That's what made it so difficult," said Salem head coach Harold Sachs. "Cam pitched well and we helped her out with those double plays. We felt that she would be okay even after the leadoff double in the seventh. It just took one ball that didn't travel the normal way."

Salem got one run back in both the first and second inning. Murphy went 3 for 4 on the day, and got on base to lead off the fifth. After a groundout to first and a wild pitch, Victoria Andrade singled her home to tie the game at 4-4. Holly Peterson came up next and blasted a double to deep left field that plated Andrade and gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the day.

Salem was able to knock out nine hits, but Timberlane starter Kate Hoadley got eight timely strikeouts. The senior passed the 500 strikeout milestone earlier in the season.

"Kate did really well," said Herchenroder. "I thought all of her pitches were on today."

The Owls next host Pinkerton Wednesday at 4 p.m., while Salem hosts Bedford on the same date and time. Both teams have matchups against three-loss Alvirne as the regular season draws closer to the end.

"We have two good tests in Bedford and Alvirne this week," said Sachs. "But today was a good test for both teams. This was a great game."

"Salem is awesome from top to bottom," said Clavette. "Kate pitched a great game. It was just back and forth the whole way and it was awesome. It was a great game."