JACKSON-The Jackson Liberty Lions started their 2018 season with a last inning come from behind win against the Barnegat Bengals.
Adrianna Romano dominated Jackson Liberty through six innings on Tuesday, striking out 13 Lions and carrying a no-hitter through five innings. Jackson Liberty’s starting pitcher DJ Diodato had some problems in the first inning walking three batters and allowing two runs, but settled down, striking out 7 batters and holding Barnegat to just four hits over seven innings.
After the first inning adjustment, Diodato and Romano held their opponents, not allowing any more runs to score.
Romano went 2 for 3 at the plate, including a 7th inning triple to left that gave Barnegat a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th inning for the Lions
Liberty was able to load the bases in the fifth and six innings but left 6 runners stranded.
After a leadoff fifth-inning walk to Heather Tsapp, Diodato broke up Romano’s no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning with a base hit to left field. Kaylee Book had an infield single to load the bases, but the Lions were unable to push a run across the plate.
In the bottom of the sixth, Liberty once again loaded the bases, this time on walks and errors, but again, stranded all three runners.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, down 5-0, Liberty batters who were fooled all day long by Romano’s rise ball began holding off. With two outs and nobody on, Liberty then sparked a rally led by Ashleigh Tavaska hitting a hard line drive to right field.
Emily Dubiago and Erin Stilton walked to load the bases for Kayla Hayes. Hayes with two strikes on her drilled a pitch from Romano up the middle driving in Tavaska and Dubiago.
Heather Tsapp reached on a walk. Marissa Southon then hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop who bobbled the ball, scoring Stilton from third. Diodato then walked to load the bases for the second time in the inning.
Throughout the inning, Jackson’s hitters were focused, taking Romano deep into the count in each at bat. Kaylee Book, with a long at-bat, walked, allowing Tsapp to score the tying run.
Illiana Flores, pinch hit for Emily Sanbeg with the score tied. Like the batters before her, Flores took Romano deep into the count, but ended the game with a walk-off walk scoring Southon to win the game.
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