by Devan Matthews
Correspondent
Some errors at inopportune times cost the Nordonia High School softball team last week, as the Knights dropped two of three ballgames.
Both of the losses came at the hands of Northeast Ohio Conference Lake Division rival Twinsburg. The visiting Tigers beat the Knights by the score of 7-5 April 28.
Two days later, Nordonia traveled to Twinsburg, only to fall again, this time by a 4-0 margin. The game that the Knights won was on May 1, as they edged Ravenna 5-3 on the road.
Nordonia is now 8-11 overall on the season. The Knights also own a mark of 2-2 within the division.
Shannon Schwed was the starting pitcher in the first game against Twinsburg. She sustained the defeat, allowing four runs. Alyssa Budner relieved her in the sixth inning and pitched an inning and two thirds, relinquishing three runs.
"It was one of those games where we made two mistakes, and they both hurt us," said Nordonia head coach Jack Gore. "In the third inning, we had what should have been a double-play ball, but we ended up throwing it into the outfield, and two runs scored. Later in the game, we had another error where we threw the ball into the outfield, and that resulted in another run. So we gave up three unearned runs that cost us the game."
Stef Misciagna led Nordonia offensively with a single, double and RBI, while Jessica Russo produced two singles and scored a run and Ashley Puscian slapped a pair of singles.
In the second game against the Tigers, Nordonia stranded 11 runners on base.
"We stranded runners in every inning," said Gore. "We put a couple of hits together, but not the third or fourth one that we needed to get a run home."
Misciagna went 3-for-4 with a stolen base. In addition, Sarah Knepper was 2-for-3, and Kelsey Shirey was 2-for-4.
Rachael Mong was the starting pitcher for the Knights. She allowed four runs in five innings and was relieved by Schwed.
"It was disappointing for the kids because we felt that Twinsburg was the team to beat in the division," said Gore. "With a 4-0 record, they're probably going to end up winning the division championship. So we watched one of our goals slip away. We still have six more conference games left, though, and we're looking forward to finishing strong."
Schwed started the Ravenna game on the mound, relinquishing no runs through four frames of work.
"We held them scoreless until the seventh inning," said Gore. "Then we had a couple of uncharacteristic errors from a couple of our players. One of the errors allowed three runs to score. The sun played a factor. It was a nightmare-type of inning."
The Knights persevered, though, holding the Ravens off for the win. Misciagna cracked a double and triple, while Russo was 3-for-3 with a stolen base and run scored and Knepper provided the game-winning RBI.
On May 7, the Knights will travel to Normandy.
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