KENT — Lucas didn’t have many opportunities against Hillsdale ace Sydney Long, but the Cubs made the most of them.
Long struck out nine and surrendered just three base hits, but the Cubs scratched a pair of runs and stunned the reigning regional champs with a 2-1 win in the Division IV regional semifinals Friday at Kent State’s Diamond at Dix.
Lucas (21-6) will play Vienna Mathews for the regional title at noon Saturday. Mathews beat St. Thomas Aquinas 6-3 in Friday’s early game.
“There’s an old saying in softball that goes, ‘It’s not how many hits you get. It’s when you get them.’ Fortunately, we got the timely hits,” Lucas coach Jim Rader said. “When you get timely hitting, get good pitching and play well defensively, good things happen.”
Taking Advantage: Lucas struck first in the home half of the second inning. Courtney Harris worked the count full before drawing a two-out walk before Erica Westfield stroked a run-scoring double on a full count for a 1-0 lead.
The Cubs added a second run in the third when Alex Depue draw a four-pitch walk with one out, stole second and scored on Morgan Spitler’s single.
Long issued three walks Friday afternoon. Two of them came around to score.
“Sydney did a great job. We can’t ask much more from her,” first-year Hillsdale coach Hannah Fulk said. “She had a couple walks, which isn’t typical of her, but we’ve got to score runs when we can.”
Missed Opportunities: Hillsdale banged out nine hits, but left nine runners stranded, including seven in scoring position. The Falcons (24-5) left runners at second in third in the first and fifth innings and left a runner at third in the third.
“We didn’t get the big hits when we needed them,” Fulk said. “Everything else on that scoreboard, we were ahead. Today we just didn’t get the hits and left runners on.”
Making History: The Cubs are in the regional tournament for the first time in school history. Lucas will play forts first ever state berth Saturday.
“I’m so proud of these girls,” Rader said. “We’re 21-6, we’ve won 13 games in a row and we’re playing for a regional championship. It’s just a blessing.”
