LYNN — A resilient outing from pitcher Brooke Warren was the difference for the Classical softball team in a 3-2 win over Medford Wednesday at Breed’s Bowzer Complex. Coming off a 9-2 loss to Saugus Monday, Classical coach Erika Richard was happy to see the Rams get back on the winning track.
“It has been awesome,” Richard said. “This was the best battle we have had so far this season. The girls fought through every inning. The energy was never lost. I felt like this was a great overall team win. Coming off a loss, we worked hard. They stepped up as a team and we got it done.”
Warren went all seven innings for the Rams, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four. After allowing two runs on four hits in the first three innings, Warren settled down to close out the win, allowing just one hit in the final four innings to hang on to a one-run lead.
“She couldn’t have finished better,” Richard said. “She has been awesome all year. Calling pitches for her was easy. It’s amazing to see. She hits her spots and battles through every batter. She takes control and she kept that going all night.”
Rebecca Walker (1-for-3, RBI) led the way at the plate with the Rams’ lone RBI. Amanda Wilkins (2-for-3), Kiara Edmonds (2-for-3) and Maggie McHale (1-for-4) each scored one run. Richard was happy to see the Rams run the bases aggressively, scoring two runs on Medford errors.
“It was good to see,” Richard said. “The girls were really aggressive on the bases. We got hits when we needed to and we got runs when we needed them. I felt like we got the job done in every situation we could.”
Warren ran into trouble early, allowing back-to-back singles to start the first inning. The Mustangs took advantage later in the inning, driving in a run on a groundout to go ahead 1-0.
Classical responded in its half of the first. Wilkins and Edmonds each singled to put runners on with two outs. Then, Walker laced a single to plate Wilkins and a few pitches later Edmonds scored after an error on a throw to third to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, the Mustangs got back on the board in the third. Medford took advantage of a hit and a walk to start the inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2.
But Classical responded. McHale and Wilkins each singled to start the third inning for the Rams. Medford was one out away from getting out of the jam, but an infield error on a ground ball hit by Walker allowed McHale to score the eventual winning run.
The one-run lead was all the support Warren needed, with the left-hander allowing just two base runners before the seventh inning. A walk and a stolen base put the tying run in scoring position for the Mustangs in the seventh, but Warren struck out two of her next three batters to close out the game.
The Rams (6-2) have a few days off before hosting Everett Saturday.