TURNERS FALLS — Pope Francis High School erupted for 13 runs in the fifth inning to erase a 9-7 deficit and rolled to a six-inning, 24-11 win over Franklin County Technical School in a Western Massachsetts Division III Softball Tournament first-round game Saturday at Nancy Gifford Field.
The ninth-seeded Cardinals (12-7) advance to Monday’s quarterfinal at top-seeded Monson High School (20-0) at 4 p.m.
The eighth-seeded Eagles (17-5) will complete their season in the State Vocational Small Schools Tournament championship game against Norfolk County Agricultural High School. that game is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Pope Francis sent 17 batters to the plate in the decisive frame and only managed four hits, but also drew eight walks and took advantage of two errors and two wild pitches. Krista Jasak’s two-run triple later in the frame was the biggest hit, and Jasak was awarded home due to an obstruction call on the play.
Jasak finished with four RBIs, while Maddie Sutton went 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs. She was one of four Cardinals players to register three hits.
Sam Macomber was 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI, and Ashlee Townsley added a single, double and four RBIs for the Eagles.