CATTARAUGUS — A lead-off triple and two-run home run in the third inning hardly rattled pitcher Ally Haskell and the Franklinville softball team.
If anything, the blast from Cattaraugus-Little Valley freshman Lexi Wulf after a triple by classmate Emma Rupp cutting the lead to 5-2, made the Panthers settle down. Haskell only allowed two more hits in a 7-2 win in CCAA East II play Friday, continuing an undefeated (6-0, 4-0) start.
“I think we rallied around it and did a nice job,” Panthers coach Allan Dunlap said of the third inning. “Whenever that happens — in the first inning, we had a big error that caused them to get some runners on base — any time that that happens with our team, we get better. We don’t face it that often with Ally on the mound, so when those things do happen, it’s great for us … as long as we have a lead. We’re better for it.”
Haskell, a junior verbally committed to St. Bonaventure, struck out 12 and walked two in a complete game four-hit performance.
“Sometimes I think she might miss a spot and maybe that’s why they hit that home run, but Ally’s pretty solid,” Dunlap said. “I don’t think she adjusted, I think she just hit her spots. She’s fantastic at doing that and she’s really good at reading the batters and finding the right spot and the right pitch.”
Franklinville marked 11 hits led by freshman catcher Dani Haskell’s 3-for-4, one-RBI day while Ally Haskell (two runs) and Renee Szymanski (three RBI) each went 2-for-4. Amy O’Neal added a double.
Rupp struck out two and walked one over the first four innings, then Lia Johnson pitched the last three, allowing one run on two hits.
Coach Heather Smith has used both pitchers in all but one game for C-LV (4-4, 1-3), Wednesday against Pine Valley, preferring the one-two punch to riding out one starter.
“(If not for two errors), it would have been a lot closer),” Smith said. “They throw well. They’re a great combination to have. Emma comes in, throws really, really well to begin with and (Lia’s) always a great closer.”
Smith said her underclassmen, including four starting freshmen, surprised her Friday.
“They weren’t as nervous as I thought they were going to be. They were ready to swing the bat. (Haskell) throws good third strike pitches so that kind of throws them off a lot but she was hittable and I feel like they figured that out in the first inning and they didn’t back out of the box like they like to do and they stayed in there and they fought through the entire thing.”
Franklinville next plays Monday, hosting North Collins. C-LV hosts its tournament starting at 10 a.m. today against Portville while Ellicottville plays North Collins.
