By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
BLOOMSBURG – Brittany Rice and Emma Maurer got the Tri-Valley offense going in the top of the first inning and never stopped.
Rice and Maurer each finished 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly while leading the District 11 champions to a 10-1 romp over Old Forge, ending the Blue Devils’ 10-game winning streak and season in the quarterfinals of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A state softball tournament.
The District 2 champion Blue Devils finished 18-5.
Rice and Maurer, the winning pitcher, combined to drive in seven runs, including all three that the Bulldogs scored in the first inning.
After Rice doubled to right field with one out to drive in the game’s first run, Maurer followed with a two-run single to left field for the 3-0 lead.
Rice doubled twice, hit a two-run homer in the third and finished with four RBIs along with three runs scored.
Maurer struck out nine in a three-hitter. She drove in three runs and doubled, leading to one of the two runs scored by her courtesy runner.
Mazzie Musgrave had two of Old Forge’s three hits and also reached base on errors in her other two plate appearances.
Musgrave’s single to lead off the fourth was the only hit until Old Forge was down to its final out.
The Blue Devils had loaded the bases while trailing, 7-0, in the bottom of the sixth. Musgrave reached on an error and the next two batters worked out the only two walks of the game of Maurer.
Tri-Valley added to its lead in the seventh before Old Forge scored its only run and again loaded the bases.
Kate O’Hearn reached on a one-out error and came in to the score on a Talia Piragas single after Tri-Valley had failed to record an out on a fielder’s choice.
Musgrave’s second hit loaded the bases, but Maurer ended the game with a strikeout.
MORE COVERAGE
State Class A opener: Lady Devils down Bucktail, 8-2 – NEPA Sports Nation.
Old Forge’s subregional and district championships: ROUNDUP: Lady Devils win titles – NEPA Sports Nation.
Photo Gallery: First Round PIAA Class A Softball Photo Gallery Old Forge vs. Bucktail – NEPA Sports Nation.
