Steubenville Rally Ends Unioto Softball Season in D-2 Regional Title Game

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The (24-4) Unioto Lady Shermans saw their softball season come to a close Saturday, falling to the (23-5) Steubenville Lady Big Red 6-4. After trailing 2-0, Unioto rallied for a 4-2 lead, only to see the Big Red come right back with four unanswered runs for the victory.

Steubenville scored two in the bottom of the first, three in the fifth and one in the sixth. Unioto scored one run in the top of the third, and three in the fifth.

The Big Red came out of the gate quickly for a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, starting with three consecutive singles, then a two-run single from Sena Smith for the lead.

Unioto was held hitless until the top of the third, when Ameris Betts became their first base runner when she was hit by a pitch. She later scored on an Alexis Book single to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Lady Shermans scored three runs in the top of the fifth for a 4-2 lead, rallying with two outs. The wild fifth inning started with an infield single, back-to-back strikeouts, Alexis Book was intentionally walked, then Morgan Daniels laced a two run hit for a 3-2 Unioto lead. That was followed by an Abbie Marshall RBI double for a 4-2 Lady Tanks lead.

But Unioto’s lead didn’t last long. Steubenville answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases on back-to-back infield singles, and a hit-batter. One run would then score on an error for a 4-3 score, followed by an RBI single to tie the game 4-4. The Big Red took the lead back at 5-4 when a fielders choice cut down the runner at the plate- but a subsequent Unioto throw trying to catch a runner off first, lead to the fifth run scoring all the way from second base.

Steubenville added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Julianna King triple, who later scored on a Sophia Zorne fielders choice for a 6-4 lead.

Unioto was retired in order in the top of the seventh inning as the Big Red advanced to the State Semi June 1st vs Canfield at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.

Steubenville scored 6 runs on 13 hits, while Unioto had 4 runs on 5 hits. Julianna King was the winning pitcher, fanning 13 Lady Shermans.

The season was a historical one for Unioto Softball, advancing to their first-ever Regional Final.