Mustang Softball Team Nearly Upsets Malden

The Mustangs held a special “pink” home game against Malden last Thursday to raise money for breast cancer research. Photo by Doug Shoop.

– Allison Goldsberry

The Lady Mustang softball team almost pulled off the upset of the year before losing to Malden, the 4th ranked team in the state, 7-6 in extra innings at Tufts Park on Thursday. Video highlights are available on the team’s website.

The home team “had their hitting shoes on,” according to Head Coach Jack Dempsey, as they rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the fifth inning. Medford scored four runs off of Malden senior All State pitcher and Providence College-bound Kiara Amos. The big hits came off the bats of juniors Lauren Walsh (single, 2 RBI’s) and Katie Napier (triple and 2 RBI’s).

After once again falling behind by one run in the home half of the eighth inning, sophomore Sarah Donnelly doubled home senior captain Jackie Pellecchia (single) to tie the score at 5. The Malden girls then came back with two more runs in the top half of the ninth inning before Medford center fielder Hannah O’Leary made a “spectacular” running catch to prevent the Golden Tornadoes from adding to their lead, said Coach Dempsey.

The Lady Mustangs weren’t done yet as freshman Brianna Napoleone laced a single to right field, scoring senior captain Emily Welch from second base to bring the Lady Mustangs within a run. However, Amos was able to pick up her eighteenth strikeout to end the game.

Senior captain Rayanne Staude pitched a strong game, with three strikeouts and only two bases on balls. Pellecchia banged out three hits while Donnelly also contributed three hits including a double, RBI and a run scored. Walsh had two hits, a run and two RBI’s while Napoleone hammered two hits and an RBI. Senior captain Shannon Hussey and Napier each had one hit while Napier also scored a run along with her two RBI’s.

Next up for the Mustangs is a trip to Framingham on Tuesday.