Krabill?s clutch dinger aids MP sweep

By Andy Krutsinger, Mt. Pleasant News

WASHINGTON ? With two outs and one in on the top of the 10th, sophomore Trinity Krabill sent a two-run shot to left that helped No. 9 Mt. Pleasant escape Washington in game one.

The Panthers held on in the bottom half of the inning to take game one, 4-2, and then parlayed that momentum into a 13-8 win in game two to stay unbeaten in conference play.

Game one was a nail-biter through and through. Chi Glaha gave the Panthers an early 2-0 lead with a two-run single in the top of the third inning but the Demons chipped away at the lead, eventually pushing two runs through.

Washington cut the Panther lead in half with a run in the fifth inning and put the tying run across in the bottom of the seventh.

Washington had the potential winning run on third base with a chance at a walk-off, but Cali Liechty, who came in to relieve Bailey Johnson late in the game, kept the Demons at bay long enough for the offense to get back on track.

Things were looking bleak with two out and just one runner on first base in the top of the 10th, but Krabill, who already had two big-flies on the year, blasted one that barely stayed fair for the go-ahead homer.

Mt. Pleasant wasn?t about to sweat another one out in game two. The Panthers scored eight runs in the first two innings and never relinquished the lead.

The Panthers put three up in the first inning, partially thanks to Jackie Fraise, who hit a two-run double to left-center field. In the second inning, RBIs by Anni Liechty, Sarah Moffett and Allison Buckert helped MPCHS pull away early.

Washington cut the lead to 8-2 with a couple of runs in the bottom of the second, but Johnson and Moffett each crossed the plate in the fourth to make it 10-2.

Mt. Pleasant stretched the lead to 12-2 in the top of the fifth, thanks to RBIs by Glaha and Johnson.

The Demons strung together five runs over their next two at bats to make it a little interesting at 12-7, but Moffett knocked in another in the top of the seventh and Washington could only muster one in their final at bat.

After the game, Coach Troy Mears talked about the importance of his team keeping the foot on the gas pedal.

?We talked about it in the huddle, we can never give up,? he said. ?We?ve got to get that killer instinct.?

Mears specifically pointed to game two, where Washington was able to score six runs in the last three innings.

?We were up 8-0, 10-2, 12-2 in the fifth (of the second game) and we just kind of ?ho-hummed,?? he said. ?Once we ho-hum and we?re up against a good team like Washington?(they?ll) keep battling and do their best to come back (and) we have to keep the killer instinct on and not let up.?

The Panthers moved to 14-3 overall and 6-0 in SEC play. They will have their biggest day of the season on Monday, June 12, at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex. Mt. Pleasant will play host to No. 2 Fairfield at 5:30 p.m., with first place in the SEC on the line.