MIDDLEBORO – Thanks to pitching and defense, Abington was able to knock off Middleboro in a South Shore League tilt yesterday evening.
A couple timely hits in the second inning were just enough as the Green Wave upended the Sachems on the road 3-1. It was the first time any of the current players on the roster had defeated Middleboro.
“It’s just a long time coming,” said Abington coach Jenna Olem. “My seniors have played against this powerhouse team (in Middleboro) for four years. We’ve been waiting to get one, so I’m really happy for them. They really deserve this.”
Middleboro (8-2) got on the board first as an RBI triple for freshman Taylynn Robinson scored junior Olivia Hartman from first. Sophomore pitcher Elsie Testa settled in and got a popout and a flyout to left to keep Robinson at third.
From there, Testa was able to retire 21 of the 26 batters she faced with 10 of those by way of the K. She finished the day with 11 strikeouts and worked around two bunt singles in the fifth and a leadoff double to left-center in the seventh for Mackenzy Conlon.
“(Testa) has so much poise on the mound,” Olem said. “She’s only a sophomore, but she’s pitching like she’s been doing it forever. To come against (Middleboro) like this and be able to keep them off balance and hold runners and to leave people on base, I give her all the credit in the world.”
Abington (14-1) responded with three runs in the top of the second as they notched four hits in the frame.
Senior captain and catcher Kasie Bailey led off with a single. After a lineout to third for freshman Malia Goldberg, Madison McDonald lined a hit to right center on the eighth pitch of the at bat to put runners on the corner.
Sophomore Riley Agnew then laced a 2-1 pitch for an RBI single to center to knot the score 1-1. Senior captain Jess Blyth then roped the first pitch she saw for an RBI single to left as Agnew raced to third. Agnew then scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1 before sophomore Taryn Clancy struck out Ava DiPietro and got Hawley to lineout to a diving Abigail Dube to retire the side.
“There’s not one person that gets up (in the batter’s box) and you’re like ‘Oh, they’re not going to hit it,’” Bailey said about the relentless offense of the Green Wave that had been averaging close to 10 runs per game. “Everyone’s up there and I believe in all of them to hit the ball, So, it’s great.”
Defense also played a big part in the sixth as a sliding stop for junior shortstop Brenna Howley led to a ground ball out for the Sachems’ Cristina Chane. That was followed up by two hard-hit balls to center that senior captain Calli Pineau handled easily.
Up next, Abington will try to avenge their lone loss of the season as they host Notre Dame of Hingham at 4 p.m. on Friday. Middleboro will play at Bishop Feehan at 4 p.m. on Thursday.