Amherst softball on win streak
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

For nine consecutive games, the Amherst softball team couldn't win. Now they can't stop winning.

The Lady Tigers improved to 7-11 overall and 3-9 in ECIC Division II with a 4-3 home win over Lake Shore on Tuesday, May 15 and a 3-1 road victory at Sweet Home on Wednesday, May 16.

Amherst came back to win both games. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning against Lake Shore, Jessica Banning hit a sacrifice fly to score Abby DeFrancis, who led off with a single, and Kelly Dixson drove in Liz Reid, who reached by error, for the winning run.

"We couldn't have executed in the bottom of the seventh any better," said Amherst coach Mike Chatelle.

Eva Lankes scored in the first on an error and Dana Ruh crossed home on a fielder's choice in the fourth for Amherst's other two runs.

Mollie Lang was 2 for 2 with a RBI, two walks, and a stolen base. Sam Sweeney was 1 for 3 with a single.

Banning tossed a two-hitter, striking out nine batters.

Down 1-0 against Sweet Home, Amherst scored twice in the second. Banning beat the tag in a run down and Sweeney singled in Becca Masters, who singled to get on base. Dixson tripled in the sixth, plating Reid. Reid was 2 for 3 at the plate. DeFrancis also singled.

Banning earned her fifth win of the season against Sweet Home, firing a complete game five-hitter with two strikeouts. The defense behind Banning was solid with no errors.

Amanda Cannizzo scored in the first for Sweet Home. She was 2 for 4 with a single, double, and run scored.

Amherst closes out the regular season with three non-league games. Two were already played (at Lancaster on Monday, May 21, home against West Seneca West on Tuesday. May 22) before The Bee went to press. The Lady Tigers host Clarence at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23.

Sweet Home

Sweet Home lost to Williamsville East, 6-3, on Monday, May 21.

Nadia Durno (2 for 2), Cannizzo (2 for 4, RBI), Natalie Vazquez (1 for 3, RBI), and Jillian Reeser and Marissa Pinkowski added hits. Pinkowski, Kelly Weber and Rachel Cimerman scored the Lady Panthers runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Taylor Klun hit a home run for East.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com