By HUNTER O. LYLE
OLEAN, NY – One big inning would not be enough for the Olean softball team as they watched Fredonia pull away late, sealing a 8-5 loss for the Huskies.
Coming into the matchup with the Hillbillies, Olean had started putting the pieces together. After dropping their first three games of the season, the Huskies took home four straight wins, beating Salamanca (13-1), Dunkirk (13-0), Jamestown (13-0) and most recently Allegany-Limestone (9-6).
“I think they got out of their own way. I knew we had a good team, they just weren’t meshing as a team and we were taking bad approaches at the plate,” said Olean head coach Steven Anastasia. “We cleaned all that up, our leaders took control and we were able to win a couple games and get some confidence.”
Although their bats had been red hot as of late, both teams would struggle at the plate to open the game. Whether it be by dueling aces – Olean’s Emma Edwards and Fredonia’s Danielle Palisin combined for seven Ks through the first few frames – or fluid fielding around the diamond, neither squad could get past first base heading into the fourth, tallying just one hit each.
However, the calm before the storm would quickly pass.
At the top of the fourth, Fredonia would finally break the stalemate. Getting back to the top of the order, Naomi Muck and Palison would make it to first and second off a single and bunt.The Hillbillies would then suffer their first out via pop fly, however, an overthrow to third by the Huskies would let in the first run of the day. Bella Buckley cracked a double immediately after, scoring one. Following back-to-back outs, Fredonia would finish the frame with one more score, with Ava Muck hitting a line drive past third to put them up 3-0.
Olean wouldn’t have to wait long to respond, however, as their sticks found constant contact in retaliation. Anna Bates and Alaina Hirliman both opened the frame with singles before Allison Anastasia joined them on base with a walk. Having the bases loaded with no outs, Ari Finch put the Huskies on the scoreboard with an RBI single. Then, Amelia Jones would push the Huskies in front, drilling a deep triple that scored three. Still without an out, Mallory Carter capped off the frame with a sacrifice groundout that gave Jones a trip around home plate, putting Olean up 5-3.
Riley Sudbrook slides to second, narrowly beating the pass, during the Huskies’ loss to Fredonia on Monday. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
“I think both teams were trying to get a feel for the pitcher,” said Steven Anastasia. “We usually don’t come out super strong and then after we go through the lineup we start to get better.”
Heading into the top of the fifth, it seemed as if the Huskies were going to grab full control of the game. Getting two outs in just as many batters, Olean was poised to keep the momentum rolling with a quick return to the batters’ box. However, the Hillbillies refused to give up.
Getting two runners on first and third with a double, a steal and then a walk, Fredonia’s docile start quickly became threatening. They would erase Olean’s still fresh lead with a fence-hitting triple that brought in two before an unforced error allowed the Hillbillies to retake the lead.
The Huskies did not have an answer, getting three outs in just four batters and while they kept Fredonia at bay in the top of the sixth, Olean failed to respond once again. Entering the final frame, they had their work cut out for them.
Allison Anastasia takes a swing during Olean’s loss to the Hillbillies. Anastasia ended 1-for-2 with one run during the loss. | Photo by Hunter O. Lyle
Unfortunately for the Huskies, Fredonia would not be subdued twice in a row. With two outs and the bases loaded, Callie Draggett smacked a single through the infield, allowing two runners to round home plate. Although Olean collected the third out on the tail end of that play, the damage had already been done. The Huskies’ bats remained cold and after three outs in the infield, their winning streak came to a close.
Jones led Olean in the box score, ending 1-for-3 with three runs batted in and one more scored personally. Ari Finch and Carter would both also tally RBIs with Finch scoring once. The Huskies will now take just one day off before hosting Southwestern on Wednesday. That game is slated for a 5 p.m. start.
“I told them that we all made mistakes, even I made mistakes. I took some gambles as a coach and it didn’t pay off,” said Steven Anastasia. “I told them we’re all human. Everybody makes mistakes, we just have to learn from them and move on and I hope we do. I want to see how these girls react after this.”
AT OLEAN
R H E
Fredonia 000 330 2 8 10 0
Olean 000 500 0 5 8 1
Fredonia: Palison (3 SO, 3 BB) and Draggett
Olean: Edwards (6 SO, 5 BB) and Bates
