JOHNSONBURG — For the second straight game, the Bradford Owls baseball team battled back and scored a key early-season victory.
Bradford fell behind 3-0 to Johnsonburg before striking for four runs over three innings and downing the Rams 4-3 on Thursday.
The Owls (2-2) finished with just four hits in the game, and scored the go-ahead run on a Mitch Baker ground out in the top of the sixth before freshman Mike Gow closed the last two innings on the mound.
Johnsonburg starter Gabe Watts limited the Owls to three runs on three hits through five innings before the Rams turned to a reliever in that sixth.
“We ran into a real good pitcher,” Bradford coach Andy Carlson said of Watts. “He is tough, a left-hander, who has a good breaking ball. But the guys battled, put some good swings on the ball — even though we struck out at times — and got to the bullpen.”
Greg Frederick, Peyton Manion and Austen Davis added RBI for the Owls, with Frederick’s double the only extra-base hit for Bradford.
On the mound, Tyler Gigliotti threw 5 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and struck out six.
It followed Peyton Manion’s 6 ⅔ innings of work Wednesday in Bradford’s 6-5 win over St. Marys.
“It really helps when starters give you length,” Carlson said. “He did a good job and then (Gow) came in and got credit for the save.”
The Owls travel to Otto-Eldred Monday.
AT JOHNSONBURG
R H E
Bradford 000 211 0 4 4 3
J’burg 012 000 0 3 6 1
Tyler Gigliotti (6 SO, 4 BB), Mike Gow (6) (1 SO, 1 BB), and Caleb Nuzzo
Gabe Watts (7 SO, 2 BB), Austin Green (6) (1 BB), and Ethan Wells
Softball
DUKE CENTER — Otto-Eldred continued its early season dominance with a 7-3 victory over Northern Potter in Northern Allegany softball action Thursday.
After falling behind in the first inning, the Lady Terrors (5-0, 4-0) controlled the rest of the game with some clutch offense and quality pitching.
Gabby Nickerson hit a two-run homer for O-E, and Emmalee Sheeler added an RBI double.
“Our offense started a little slow tonight,” Lady Terrors coach Roger Veilleux said. “But we were pretty aggressive at the plate and were able to capitalize on some of their team mistakes.”
Abby Wolfe threw her fifth complete game of the year for Otto-Eldred, allowing eight hits and striking out sixth.
Maddy Hyde and Alyssa Burchell combined for five hits at the plate for NoPo (1-2, 1-2) and Megan Hyde took the loss on the mound.
Elk Catholic 21, Bradford 7
An 11-run second inning send the Elk County Catholic Crusaders to a high-scoring win over Bradford in a game that featured 28 runs and 37 hits.
Leading the barrage of hits for the Lady Crusaders were M. Wolf (4 hits, RBI), R. Nero (5 RBI), and E. Fledderman (3 hits, 3 RBI).
“I was very pleased that our bats came alive tonight, Bradford coach Amy Stoltz said. “A lot of the girls had nice, hard hits. Seems like we have one inning that we struggle, but we are improving.”
Five Lady Owls had multi-hit games, including Emily Warner who had a triple, two base hits and three RBI.
Adrienne Angell took the loss on the mound for Bradford.
