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Rensberger allows no earned runs, fans 7 for win in circle
BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Aubrey Wilson Bria Rensberger
The Rochester softball team could not get the one out they needed in the top of the seventh inning in their home game against Maconaquah at Fansler Field on May 1. but they did get the big hit they needed in the bottom half.
Aubrey Wilson hit a walk-off, two-out RBI double off Blayklee Buman in the bottom of the seventh as the Lady Zs beat the Lady Braves 3-2.
Bria Rensberger allowed no earned runs and struck out seven while pitching a five-hitter.
Leading 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Rochester had gotten within an out of winning, but Amaya Rader reached on an error to load the bases, and Kasey Murry stole home to tie the game. Rensberger recovered to get Sydney Barnes to ground to Wilson at short to retire the side.
Mia Howdeshell led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and later stole second before scoring on Wilson’s game-winner to right-center field.
Rochester coach Jim Coleman spoke highly of Wilson’s demeanor with the game on the line.
“Early in the season, she had a couple opportunities and popped out once and hit one back to the pitcher, and as I told her, it’s about learning and understanding the situation. Tonight she was calm. If I could pick anybody in our batting lineup to be in that position at that time, it would be Aubrey.”
Wilson said she had to wait for her pitch to drive it.
“I don’t know if I can describe the situation, but I know I had to put the ball in play so I can get Mia home,” Wilson said. “It’s just a good team win. It felt good. Our defense was really good today.”
Coleman said the win was meaningful in that they showed resilience after Maconaquah tied the game.
“That was big for us,” Rochester coach Jim Coleman said. “We had a couple defensive miscues, but we were able to come in, and Mia Howdeshell did an excellent job. She had a great at-bat, worked the count full, worked the walk, which was key. Our tail end of our order really fed the top of our order tonight and got us going. Every run that we scored, the bottom helped generate that, so it was very key.”
Rochester had taken a 1-0 lead in the second when Makhia Harding scored on a passed ball. They made it 2-0 in the fifth when Darah Strasser stole third and scored on a throwing error.
Rader reached on an error, and Barnes singled before Bailey Carson’s RBI groundout to third base in the top of the sixth.
Wilson said the young Lady Zs – they typically start five freshmen and two sophomores in the lineup – are working on building trust with each other.
“By making plays with each other and if somebody gets down on themselves after a play, if they made an error or struck out, you have to pick them up,” Wilson said when asked about building trust. “It’s a team sport.”
Rochester improved to 3-2 in the TRC. Maconaquah fell to 2-2.
Rochester 3, Maconaquah 2
Maconaquah 000 001 1 – 2 5 2
Rochester 010 010 1 – 3 5 4
WP – Bria Rensberger (7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
LP – Buman (6 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K)
2B – Aubrey Wilson (RHS)
