Fox Chapel edges Plum for fourth straight win

Fox Chapel catcher Amanda Pasqua singled and then scored the winning run by beating a throw to the plate in the top of the sixth inning, as the Foxes edged Plum, 2-1, on Friday afternoon to win their fourth consecutive game in Section 4-AAA.

Fox Chapel's win also marked the second time this week that the Foxes have beaten Plum, as they downed the Mustangs, 5-4 in nine innings, on Tuesday. Fox Chapel pitcher

Terri Zivic stuck out seven batters in seven innings of work to improve her record to 7-6 for the season.

Fox Chapel (7-6, 7-2) can clinch a share of the section championship with Gateway by beating Oakland Catholic at home Monday coupled with a Gateway loss at home to Plum (8-8, 4-5) on Monday. Gateway swept the season series with Fox Chapel this season by scores of 7-3 and 5-4.

Mt. Lebanon 10, Chartiers Valley 0 -- Megan Rigos struck out 10 and walked one in her fifth no-hitter of the season, as Mt. Lebanon cruised past Chartiers Valley in Section 6-AAA. Rigos now has a total of 175 strikeouts on the season. Mollie Puskar, Gina Holzworth, Gerri Ruef, and Jessie Eppelsheimer each had a home run for the Blue Devils. Puskar and Ruef both went 3 for 3.

North Allegheny 7, Hampton 1 -- Sara Krastek pitched a complete game with six strikeouts and no walks as North Allegheny (13-5, 8-1) clinched the Section 5-AAA title by defeating Hampton (3-6 section).

The Talbots took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Tigers tied it in the second inning, and the score remained that way until North Allegheny exploded for six runs in the sixth.

Connellsville 4, Uniontown 1 -- Connellsville (14-1, 9-0) clinched the Section 3-AAA title with a victory over Uniontown. Ashley Whipkey picked up the win and Rachel Means had a triple and an RBI double for Connellsville.

Highlands 9, Ford City 4 -- Katie Munshower picked up her 11th win of the season as Highlands (11-4, 9-2) defeated Ford City. Mindy Beale and Britney Grabigel each had three hits for the Golden Rams, who have clinched a berth in the WPIAL playoffs.

Sto-Rox 17-17, Cornell 0-2 (4 inn. each) -- Sto-Rox (13-5, 9-0) clinched their 13th Section 3-A title with two victories over Cornell.

In Game 1, Lindsay Vevers struck out eight and was one error away from a perfect game. Kaitlyn Merks was 3 for 4 with a double, triple and three RBI. Jen Stefko hit a solo home run for Sto-Rox.

Merks shined again in Game 2, going 4 for 4 with three triples and three RBI. Michelle Kushner drove in four runs, and Cristina Magliocco three for Sto-Rox. Stephanie Elk pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Hempfield 7, Laurel Highlands 1 -- The Hempfield Area softball team secured a playoff berth Friday afternoon with a 7-1 win over Laurel Highlands in a Section 3-AAA game.

The Spartans improved to 11-5 overall and 7-2 in the section.

Erin Truxal of Hempfield went 2 for 4 with three runs batted in, and Heather Riggle picked up the victory.

Marissa Sekora scored a run and added a run-scoring triple in the sixth to add to Hempfield's 4-1 lead.

Blackhawk 12, Quaker Valley 1 -- Heather Battaglia tossed a one-hitter with eight strikeouts and three walks as Blackhawk (6-12, 4-5) defeated Quaker Valley in Section 1-AA. Heather Freede knocked in a pair of runs.

Greensburg Salem 8, Albert Gallatin 0 -- Nicole Cribbs pitched a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts to lead Greensburg Salem (9-7, 6-3) past Albert Gallatin in Section 3-AAA.

Belle Vernon Area 5, Waynesburg 2 -- Brooke Panepinto, Julie Lacey and Jillian Kunka hit doubles for Belle Vernon Area in a Section 7-AA victory over Waynesburg. BASEBALL

Bishop Canevin 2, Burgettstown 1 -- Bishop Canevin slipped past Burgettstown with a final-inning rally. Matt Fazio, who had two assists from right field in the contest, singled home Anthony Caruso in the bottom half of the seventh to win it for the Crusaders.

Matt Palastro picked up his first win of the year.

South Park 10, South Allegheny 2 -- South Park (12-6, 8-2) clinched sole possession of second place in Section 4-AA and knocked South Allegheny (5-4 section) out of the playoffs. Matt Carver struck out six and walked two in the win. Rick Kesich, Danny Lippert and Jason Undereiner each drove in two runs.

Hampton 8, North Catholic 6 -- George Jeffrey picked up the victory as Hampton beat North Catholic in a non-section game. Ryan Riordan, Ryan Dukovich, and Jedd Cordisco each homered for the Talbots.

Monessen 9, Frazier 3 -- Nico Smolec was the winning pitcher in Monessen's Section 7-A victory over Frazier. The Greyhounds scored five insurance runs in the final two innings to fight off the Commodores.

Belle Vernon 4, Mt. Pleasant 1 -- Brian Green improved to 2-0 as Belle Vernon routed Mt. Pleasant in Section 5-AA. Doug Ivill's triple was the only extra base hit for the Leopards.

Hempfield Area 11, Southmoreland 1 -- Brandon Gnesda picked up the win, and Jon DiLorenzo went 4 for 4 in Hempfield's non-section victory over Southmoreland. Gnesda also added two doubles.