MIDDLETOWN — Two-run singles by Erika Kirby and Maria Castaldo sparked a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning that lifted the Middletown Mustangs to a 10-8 non-league softball victory over the Healdsburg Greyhounds on Monday in Middletown.
Healdsburg had just scored twice to take a 7-5 lead in the top of the sixth when the Mustangs came to bat in the bottom of the inning. Kirby”s two-run single knotted the score at 7 and Rachel Sutton followed with a RBI single to give Middletown an 8-7 lead. Castaldo”s two-run single capped the rally and made it 10-7.
Healdsburg pushed a run across the plate in the top of the seventh and had a runner at third with one out when Middletown third baseman Cheyanne Horvath speared a line drive off the bat of a Greyhounds batter and tagged the runner to complete the game-ending double play.
Middletown also turned a 6-3 double play in the third inning when shortstop Castaldo gloved a grounder, tagged a runner going from second to third, and threw on to first base for the out.
“The girls are getting stronger every day and a little more consistent with every game,” Middletown coach Bob Cummesky said after the Mustangs” third straight victory. “I”m happy with their progress, we just have to make fewer mistakes.”
Middletown was charged with six errors.
Winning pitcher Kaitlyn Swank went the distance for the victory, striking out three and walking 10.
“She pitched better than the line indicates,” Cummesky said. “A lot of her walks came after two-out errors that extended innings.”
Castaldo, Kirby and Alana McSween had two hits apiece for Middletown.
“She”s really impressing me,” Cummesky said of the junior McSween, the only new starter in Middletown”s lineup this season (in right field). “She”s really playing well offensively and defensively. She”s playing a solid right field and she”s stepped up and hitting the ball.”
Kristiana Outen reached base safely in all four of her at-bats for the Mustangs. She singled, walked twice and was hit by a pitch.
