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Mifflin County routs Nittany Valley in five

The Mifflin County Major League Softball team stood strong and let its patience at the plate take center stage against Nittany Valley Tuesday night at Pannik Field in Bellefonte.

Mifflin County, led by the pitching of Piper Specht and the hitting of Jalee Bodtorf, cruised to an easy victory over Nittany Valley, 12-2, in five innings.

Specht had things working for her on the mound, striking out 10 and allowing three hits. She did not allow an earned run in the contest. Taking the loss on the night was Sierra Albright.

“They are a good group of girls. We’ve been waiting three nights to do this. They have been playing together a long time,”Mifflin County coach Jason Treaster said. “We’ve seen Sierra (Albright) pitch before. She is outstanding. We knew it would be tough to start. We knew we would have to be patient in order to get to her. It was the same way last year. Just patience was all it took.”

Offensively, Bodtorf had Albright’s number as she finished 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs. Marrissa Peachey also finished with multiple RBIs, collecting two on an RBI single. Mifflin County finished with a five-hit afternoon and committed only one error.

Both pitchers opened the game strong as they collected three strikeouts apiece.

Bodtorf got the first hit of the ball game as she lined one down the third base line. She was replaced on the base path by Olivia Metz who was later tagged out at the plate on a wild pitch, keeping the game scoreless.

After Jaylee rose hit a lead-off double to deep center, Nittany Valley looked poised to score, but Specht and company settled in and kept them off the scoreboard.

Mifflin County was able to plate runs in the third after Grace Paez-Davoli and Kendall Cavanaugh drew walks to start the inning.

Davoli scored after two consecutive stolen bases and a wild pitch, making it 1-0.

Alexis O’Brien kept the inning going with yet another walk, loading the bases for Bodtorf. Bodtorf brought in Cavanaugh and Metz on a blast to right field. With O’Brien at third and Bodtorf at second, both moved up another base on another wild pitch, upping the score to 4-0.

Defensively, Mifflin County continued its stinginess as it once again refused to allow a run.

Olivia Fisher led off the fourth inning with a walk. She moved up to second on a stolen base and scored after two wild pitches, leading her team to what would be a six-run inning.

Davoli kept things going as she was hit by a pitch. Cavanaugh followed with her second walk in as many innings. Catcher Bailey Wyland also was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. O’Brien then walked to drive in a run.

Bodtorf stood strong at the plate and picked up her third hit. This time she went back into the left field line for the two-run single.

With O’Brien on third and Bodtorf on second, both moved up a base once again on another wild pitch. Bodtorf later scored to put the game out of reach at 10-0.

Nittany Valley kept the game going as it scored two runs on a Mifflin County error.

Mifflin County battled back in the fifth to increase the lead once again, making it 12-2.

This time Specht took care of the rest, striking out the side and ending the contest in the fifth.

With the win, Mifflin County advances and will host State College today at 6 p.m.

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