The Easter Bunny left some sweet goodies a few days early for Dublin Coffman’s girls on Monday.
The Lady Monarchs gift-wrapped the Shamrocks’ victory with an error in the bottom of the seventh that produced Coffman’s winning run during an 8-7 victory.
The Lady Monarchs (10-5 overall and 4-1 in the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division) had the game well in hand with a 7-3 lead going into Coffman’s portion of the seventh inning.
The Shamrocks got the first two runners of the frame on board against MHS relief pitcher Abby Gindelsberger.
Allie Kelly singled and Taylor Airy was issued a walk.
MHS head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell then brought starting pitcher Izzy Shroyer (who had pitched the first 3 2/3 innings) back to the circle.
A single by Maddie Luke loaded the bases.
Shroyer induced a popup to the infield for the first out, but the tension continued to mount.
Caroline Stuckey singled in a run to pull Coffman to within 7-4.
The sacks were still juiced when Ryle Anspach blasted a double that drove in three runs to tie the game at 7-7.
Marley McDonald popped out in foul territory behind first base.
Anspach tagged at second and took off for third.
She slid in safety as a throwing error sent the ball well behind the bag.
Anspach popped up out of her slide and raced home with the winning run.
“We’ve lost three games this year (along with Gahanna and Grove City) in the seventh inning,” said Segner-Maxwell. “In all three, we didn’t close out well.”
The Lady Monarchs (who will host Upper Arlington on Wednesday) began the game very well.
MHS scored three runs over the visitors’ portions of the third and fourth innings.
Tayler Clabaugh singled to begin the third and with one down, Emily Daniel walked against Coffman southpaw Kelsi Anderson.
With two down, Ashley Dunn singled in the run for a 1-0 MHS edge.
The Lady Monarchs went on top 3-0 in the fourth.
Leah Potter singled and Gindlesberger reached on an error that left runners on second and third.
Anderson induced a popup and notched a strikeout before Sydney Wade’s single gave MHS a 3-0 lead.
Coffman tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth.
Shroyer hit Stukey with a pitch, but got the next two outs.
Stukey was perched on second after a grounder as Avery Ketch, Coffman’s No. 5 batter, strode to the plate.
Segner-Maxwell decided she didn’t want the bat in the hands of Coffman’s No. 5 hitter.
“Nobody behind her (Ketch) had done anything so far in the game,” said the MHS coach. “That’s why we gave her an intentional walk.”
The strategy backfired in a big way.
Sophia Maggs ripped a triple that drove in two runs. Maggs then tied the game at 3-3 by racing home on a three-bagger by Ally Kelly.
Shroyer got a fly ball out to end the threat.
MHS responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.
Daniel singled and Hanna Moffett legged out a bunt for a base hit.
Ashley Dunn put down a sacrifice bunt which was played into an error and loaded the bases.
Shroyer was safe on a fielder’s choice that drove in a run and Moffett later scored on a botched rundown.
The Lady Monarchs added what they thought were a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Moffett singled and Dunn was safe on a bunt single.
A groundball out by Shroyer brought in a run.
Lexi Williams later singled in the run that gave Marysville what appeared to be a pretty safe 7-3 advantage.
The scenario drastically changed in the bottom of the seventh.
That’s when the wheels fell off and dashed the Lady Monarchs’ hopes for an undefeated Central Division record.
MHS 001 220 2-7 10 3
DC 000 300 5-8 7 1
WP: Anderson
LP: Shroyer
The MHS jayvees fell to Coffman, 11-4.
Jillian Smith led Marysvile with two hits.