ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The Pirates won their third and fourth consecutive games, as Rocky River swept a doubleheader against Hathaway Brown on Saturday. River continued a slugging surge, winning the games by scores of 14-3 and 21-5. Both contests at Pirates Field were five-inning, run-rule affairs.
The Pirates (5-4) logged a slash line of .434/.589/.755 (batting/on-base/slugging) over the twin victories on what was a warm early-spring day at the Corner of Northview & 90. Rocky River clobbered Blazer pitching for 10 extra-base hits, including two home runs by Kelsey Murphy and one by Katie Mommers. The Pirates blazed their way to a dozen stolen bases and batted .455 with runners in scoring position.
Over the two games, Murphy went 5-for-8 with a double, a triple, two round-trippers, seven runs batted in, and five runs scored. The junior catcher now has 18 RBIs in River's last four games. Her home runs marked the fourth and fifth of her 2021 line and the ninth and 10th of her career.
Lexi Aguilar went 4-for-6; Kate Tlapa went 3-for-5. They each scored three runs while knocking in four. Mommers went 3-for-4 with three walks, six runs scored and five RBIs. Emily Satayatham went 2-for-5 and was credited with three stolen bases and five runs.
By hook or by crook -- be it by base hit, walk, or fielding error -- 12 Pirates reached base in the twin bill.
Four pitchers (Mommers -- four innings pitched, Maggie Hill -- 3 IP, Colleen Meese -- 2 IP, Sienna DeMooy -- 1 IP) combined to log 10 innings while allowing just two earned runs. Mommers struck out eight batters.
Pirate pitchers have had plenty of lead to work with of late. Rocky River has scored 67 runs over its four-game win streak. Over that stretch, the Maroon & White has registered a .570 on-base percentage while banging out 19 extra-base hits.
The Pirates hope to continue that hit parade with upcoming Great Lakes Conference games against Valley Forge (home-and-home on Monday-Tuesday), Holy Name (road game on Thursday), and Normandy (home game on Friday).
by Skip Snow
# # # pirates # # #