Neuqua ends skid at Lancers' expense

Neuqua Valley waited through three long days and two rainouts to shed a four-game losing streak.

Lake Park paid the price.

The Wildcats pounded out 13 hits and Colleen Hohman struck out 12 in a 9-4 win over the host Lancers in Roselle.

"Our team's been faltering a little bit lately, but I think we bounced back really well," said Hohman, who also went 3-for-4 and drove in 2 runs. "This is a step in the right direction."

Neuqua Valley (6-4, 4-2 Upstate Eight Conference) broke open a 3-3 tie with a 3-run third inning. Jenna Marsalli reached on an error with one out, Hohman doubled her in and Leah Nebendahl launched a 2-run homer to left for a 6-3 lead. The Wildcats tacked on a run in the sixth and 2 more in the seventh to put the wraps on an elusive win over Lake Park.

"I think I was in college the last time we beat Lake Park," fifth-year Neuqua Valley coach Michelle Schmidt said. "We played very well offensively today. I'm proud of them."

The Wildcats got off the bus ringing the ball around the park. After an Amanda Mener bunt single with one out in the first Marsalli belted a 3-2 pitch into the left-center field gap for a double. Hohman and Summer McKenzie followed with line-drive run-scoring singles for a 2-0 lead.

"When your pitcher rolls the first two balls to the plate and gets behind in the count, these hitters are going to feast," Lake Park coach Tom Mazzie said. "They hit the ball all over the place on us today."

Lake Park (7-5, 2-2) scratched across 3 runs in the bottom of the first with the help of two Neuqua Valley errors and a passed ball. But Hohman (5-2) settled in after that, allowing just an unearned run in the fifth the rest of the way.

"She is very mature on the mound," Schmidt said, "and she'll keep us in games. We just have to come out defensively and offensively to support her, and we swung the bats today."

Marsalli was 2-for-2 and reached base four times, Nebendahl 2-for-3 with 3 RBI and Wido 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored.

"To be able to have my teammates back me up when we gave up three runs in the first like we did, and to know they're going to hit the ball, it's such a relief," Hohman said. "It gives you such a boost on that mound."

Alexis Munaco was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Lake Park.

"We had 5 strikeouts looking," Mazzie said, "and that's why the girls are running right now. If you don't want to compete, I don't want you out there. Not to take anything away from Neuqua. They are a very good team."