In their first meeting since falling to Vincentian in the WPIAL championship game nearly a year ago, the Avonworth softball team had intentions of turning the tables when they played on the road this past Monday.

After leading through most of the game, the Lady ‘Lopes stumbled in the late innings and were defeated 7-4.

"Its kind of the same old situation against this team," said Avonworth coach Chris Knox after the game.

Knox, who has yet to beat Vincen-tian in his five years as head coach, talked to his players afterwards and said, "Good players make great plays at the right time, and that's what this team did to us today -- a couple of hits near the end of the game when they had to have hits. We had similar situations and didn't make the plays."

The Lady ‘Lopes made their presence felt early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Molly Frew reached base when the Royals’ third baseman dropped a pop fly and Natalie Zivic walked to put runners on first and second bases with two outs.
Marissa Milbert then delivered a three-run homer that sailed over the centerfield fence to put the 'Lopes in front.

Avonworth's Alison Chambers and Julianne Hirsch reached base on consecutive hits in the top of the third, however Vincentian pitcher Nina Melvin, who recorded 12 strike-outs on the day, was able to get out of the inning with two KOs and a ground-out to end the inning.

The Lady ‘Lopes came up big de-fensively in the bottom of the third when Laura Presutti's throw from right field on a base hit got the lead runner with a tag by Erin Zakor at third and stopped a potential run in the inning.

Avonworth went down in order in the top of the fourth before Vincentian tied the game in their half of the inning.
The big blow was a two-run homer to left by Bridget Melvin and an unearned run that followed with two outs that put the teams at 3-3.

The 'Lopes responded in the top of the fifth when Frew reached base on an error to set up the go-ahead run. Frew moved to second base on a bunt by Chambers and then stole third with Hirsch coming to bat with two outs. Hirsch came through with a hit that dropped in down the left field line and put the Lady ‘Lopes in front 4-3.

Vincentian responded in the bottom of the fifth when Melvin drilled her second two-run homer over the fence in left to put the Royals in front 5-4.

Avonworth had Milbert and Kelsey Knox both in scoring position in the top of the sixth but could not take advantage.

Vincentian, however, took advantage of two walks and two hits in the bottom of the sixth that brought in two more RBIs by Melvin that put the final score at 7-4.

After the game, Knox made note of Hirsch's pitching, saying, "I think she pitched a good game. She threw a couple of bad balls here and there, but she's young and she'll learn." He added, "I think this team knows that they can beat Vincentian. We just have to play a perfect game."

The Lady Lopes hosted Sewickley Academy the following day and whacked the Panthers 18-0.