Wagner armed and dangerous in Rebellion win
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter RebellionþÄôs Lexie Elkins congratulates Stacey Porter after Porter scores in the first inning of the game against USSSA Pride.
Rebellion left-handed pitcher Haylie Wagner throws a pitch in the top of the fourth inning against the USSSA Pride Tuesday at Consol Energy Park.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter The RebellionþÄôs Kristyn Sandberg hits a homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning against USSSA Pride on Tuesday, June 21.
Haylie Wagner gave the Pennsylvania Rebellion pitching staff exactly what it needed.
A night off.
Wagner, a left-handed, free-agent signed out of the University of Michigan last year, turned in a strong performance in a 3-1 victory over the first-place USSSA Pride at Consol Energy Park. She allowed one earned run, struck out five and walked three. She loaded the bases in the seventh but got out of it by getting GiOnna DiSalvatore to bounce back to her to end the game.
“It’s always important to give pitchers a rest,” said Wagner (1-1). “We throw so much and it’s a long season. As long as we can keep going, hit our spots, I’m sure the coaches will keep us in there. That what happened here. I wanted a complete game and to give our pitchers a rest.”
The Rebellion (7-10) are a pitcher down after Chelsea Wilkinson, a third-round pick out of Georgia in April’s NPF Draft, decided not to play after arriving in Washington County a week ago. That left the Rebellion with only five pitchers.
They needed a complete game and Wagner gave it to them.
“I don’t think we have one No. 1 pitcher. I think we have five great pitchers,” Wagner said. “Any one of us can start a specific day, and the coaches have confidence in us.”
The Rebellion staked Wagner to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when they roughed up Pride starter Hanna Rogers. Third baseman Stacey Porter drew a one-out walk and came home when Alisa Goler doubled into the gap in right-centerfield. Goler scored on a single to right field by Lindsey Stephens.
The lead went to 3-0 when catcher Kristyn Sandberg hit a laser over the left-field fence for a solo home run, her third of the season, in the bottom of the fourth inning.
“I got a hold of it and it felt good right off the bat,” said Sandberg. “Off the bat, I thought I had a good piece of it. I thought it had the height to go the whole way.”
The Pride (7-3) cut it to 3-1 in the sixth on a single by Hallie Wilson and threatened to steal this game in the seventh. Courtney Ceo drew a one-out walk, and leadoff hitter Megan Wiggins singled to center. One out later, Kelly Kretschman, who came into the game with a league-best .598 average, walked to load the bases. Wagner took care of her for the win.
“They are a great hitting team. Every team in this league is a great hitting team,” Wagner said. “There are bound to be runners on. So as a pitcher, you have to be tough and go after the hitters.”
The autograph sessions at Consol Energy Park resumed this series but only fans 18-and-under are permitted. The sessions were stopped last week after a threat was perceived on social media. … Goler had two of the Rebellion’s six hits. … The two teams meet tonight at Consol Energy Park before playing games in Allentown Thursday and Friday.