One hit enough for Belle Vernon to top SF
South Fayette’s Ashley Iagnemma pitches against Belle Vernon Tuesday.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter South Fayette’s girls’ softball team leaves the field after falling to Belle Vernon on Tuesday, May 19. Belle Vernon won 1 -0.
CALIFORNIA – If anyone would have told Vic Iagnemma South Fayette would allow only one hit against Belle Vernon in Tuesday’s game, he would have been pleased and optimistic that it would be a winnable softball game.
That’s what made the 1-0 loss to Belle Vernon in the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals at California University’s Lilley Field so hard to take.
The only hit Ashley Iagnemma gave up was a solo home run to Emily Frederick in the second inning, a laser that landed under the scoreboard. It was the fourth home run of the season for Frederick.
“We knew it was going to be a tight game,” said Iagnemma, the Lions head coach. “She hit the bell well.”
South Fayette (13-9) had two golden chances to score a run in this game, getting a leadoff batter into scoring position in two innings, but failing to bring her home.
Catcher Sara Jubas was hit by a pitch to open the game and was sacrificed to third base by Emily Bryan. But Belle Vernon starter Bailey Parshall struck out the next two batters. It would be a recurring act as Parshall would strike out two batters in six of the seven innings and finish with 13.
In the fifth inning, center fielder Marissa France led off with a double to the base of the fence in center. Parshall struck out the next two batters and got Jubas to pop out to second to end the threat.
“We tried to bunt (Jubas) over in the first inning but couldn’t get it done,” Iagnemma said. “It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out. We couldn’t string any hits together.”
That had a lot to do with Parshall, a Penn State commit though only a freshman. She retired 13 of the last 15 batters, allowing France’s double as the only hit. Bailey Kormick got on via an error in the seventh but France flied to center and Gwen Iagnemma struck out to end the game.
Parshall struck out the bottom five batters in the South Fayette lineup a combined nine times.
The only time when her inexperienced showed was in the sixth inning, when she called time with the second batter up and walked to the dugout.
“She wanted to tell me something,” said BV head coach Tom Rodriguez.
“She gets frustrated sometimes. She wanted me to chance the pitch to a change-up.”
Ashley Iagnemma finished with seven strikeouts and two walks.
“You have to give her a lot of credit,” said Rodriguez. “She only gave up one hit.”