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ATHENS — “Unfinished business.”
That is the mantra that Unioto has used by all season long. The Shermans have a destination in mind and moved one step closer towards it on Wednesday.
Scoring three runs in the sixth inning before closing the door in the seventh, Unioto (22-3) punched its ticket back into a district final with a 4-1 victory over Fairland at Ohio University.
“It’s been awhile since we last played, so we had to knock off a little rust but I thought the girls played really well,” Unioto coach Rob Hull said. “It wasn’t our best hitting performance, but at the same point, [Fairland pitcher Kaylee Salyer] is a really good pitcher. We finally caught up to her late in the game and played really solid defensively to get the win.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Given that both teams hadn’t played in a week or so, a slow start on both sides was somewhat expected. Although, both also certainly had their chances to score in the opening four innings.
Fairland (15-7) had two runners on base in the third inning, but couldn’t score as a ground out to end the threat.
Meanwhile, Unioto managed to get two base runners on in the first and fourth innings, as well as a bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth, yet couldn’t drive anyone home.
That all changed in the fifth, though.
With a runner on second, Fairland’s Ally Shepherd hit a shallow pop fly that fell just in front of Unioto’s right fielder, driving in a run for a 1-0 lead.
However, the Shermans responded swiftly in the bottom half. Ava Dettwiller stepped to the plate and smoked an RBI single to center field, tying the game 1-1.
“She was throwing a lot of rise balls, so I took a couple steps into the batter’s box,” Dettwiller said. “I knew I had to get the ball in play no matter what and she’d score if I did, so that’s what I did.”
“That was one of those situations where I didn’t have to say anything coming into the at-bat since the girls were already fired up and ready,” Hull said. “They put a run up and we quickly responded. We’ve been in this situation many times before, so the girls know how to answer back and keep pressing the gas.”
Dettwiller’s base knock was all Unioto needed to see in the sixth, and it was time to drive the nail into the Dragons’ coffin.
With a runner on second and one out, the Shermans scored thanks to a throwing error to take the lead. That was followed by an RBI single from Abbie Marshall, and a sacrifice fly from Megan Miller, for a 4-1 lead.
“Honestly, I’m a pretty simple girl. I don’t do a ton of thinking at the plate except try to get ahead in the count,” Marshall said. “The goal is always the same, which is to hit the ball where the defense isn’t and get on base for my team.”
Fairland attempted to keep its season alive and managed to put runners on first and second in the seventh, but the Dragons were called out on a runner’s interference ruling during the next at-bat, bringing the season to an end.
Hannah Hull earned the win in the circle, throwing a complete game and striking out seven batters. Marshall finished 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Dettwiller and Miller added an RBI to the mix as well.
For Fairland, Sayler suffered the loss while allowing three earned runs and striking out six batters. Shepherd finished 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Unioto advances to a Division II district final at 6 p.m., Friday at Ohio University against Circleville, who knocked off Hillsboro to move on.
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