WINTHROP – Just as things began to get dicey for the Monmouth Mustangs in their Western Class C quarterfinal matchup against the Livermore Falls Andies on Friday, they turned in a pair of nifty defensive plays.
After the Andies put two runners on and brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh, Alex Gauthier and Jen Lola each came up with clutch defensive plays as the Mustangs held on for a 5-2 softball win. The game was played in Winthrop due to the wet conditions in Monmouth.
Monmouth coach Rachel Bernier elected to replace starting pitcher Brittney Hilton (6-1) with Jessica Gray to start the seventh.
“We brought Jess in to help tighten up defensively in the last inning,” said Bernier. “Brittany was starting to elevate her pitches and (the Andies) were making contact.”
Bernier moved Lola from shortstop to center field, placed Hilton at third and shifted Gauthier to short from the hot corner.
Sam Whiting beat out an infield single to begin the seventh for the No. 6 Andies (12-6), and Brittany Souther reached on an infield error. Celeste Michaud followed by rapping a ground ball to short. Gauthier gobbled up the ball and quickly fired to Hilton to nip Whiting at third.
With one out, Chelsea Morris blooped a ball to short right-center, which was run down by Lola. The sophomore center fielder then turned to her right and fired the ball to Gauthier at second base to double up Souther.
Game over.
“They know where they need to be every play, which is nice,” said Bernier.
Hilton breezed through the first two innings, racking up five of her seven strikeouts. The No. 2 Mustangs (14-1) spotted her a run in the first on an RBI single down the right-field line by Alysa Morin and added two more in the third for a 3-1 lead when Gauthier (three hits) scored on an infield throwing error, and Kayla Chick drove in a run on a groundout.
Hilton helped herself with a two-out, two-run double to right-center in the fifth. After taking a fastball at the knees on a 3-1 count from Whitney McDaniel (12-6), she drove a shot into the gap to bring in Moe Beaulieu and Morin.
“I was just hoping to get to first,” said Hilton. “It was a surprise. I haven’t been hitting well.”
“She’s been struggling with her hitting,” added Bernier. “It was nice to see her hit the ball with authority.”
The Andies scratched for a run in the second and added another in the sixth on an RBI single by Erica Gats. Although they threatened on other occasions, they were unable to score.
“They put a lot of pressure on you,” said Livermore Falls coach Brent Hammond. “They hit the ball solidly and they play solid defense. They’re a good team.”
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