Rocky Grove’s first five batters of the game were able to reach base ultimately leading to a four-run first for the visitors. Additional damage was avoided after left fielder Marli Rectenwald made a nice catch on a line drive and fired to third baseman Kamden Swearingen to double off the runner tagging from second.

The 4-0 lead held until the third inning when the Orioles used some timely hitting and a few key Youngsville errors to plate three more runs and push the lead to 7-0.

The Eagles’ bats began to come to life in the bottom of the third. Marissa VanGuilder and Alyssa Gentz both singled and Rectenwald walked to load the bases. Hailey Gray was up next and connected with an RBI single, and Gentz soon scored on a passed ball to get Youngsville within 7-2 at the end of three.

Rocky Grove got one of the runs back in the top of the fourth when shortstop Kaylin Jacoby crushed a solo home run over the Youngsville track.

Youngsville second baseman Madison Carnahan catches a fly ball as left fielder Marli Rectenwald looks on during Tuesday’s Region 2 softball game with Rocky Grove at Youngsville High School. Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert

The Eagles answered that run in the bottom of the fourth where patience was key for the home team. Youngsville worked three walks and Ireland Abraham scored on Rectenwald’s RBI groundout to make it an 8-3 game.

Much like the opening inning, the Eagles avoided falling further behind with some nice defense in the top of the fifth. Gray fielded a Rocky Grove single and gunned down the runner at home plate to keep it a five-run game.

Youngsville only allowed a two-out RBI single in the seventh the rest of the way, but the Orioles were able to retire the Eagles’ final 11 batters of the game in order.

A busy week for the Eagles continues today when they host Cambridge Springs.

MONDAY

YOUNGSVILLE — Youngsville jumped out to a 9-2 lead before Union came roaring back during a 20-12 setback Monday at Youngsville High School.

The Eagles plated nine runners during the opening two innings thanks to key RBI doubles from Molly Helman and Kamden Swearingen, and an RBI triple from Ireland Abraham.

The third and fourth innings were the ones that ultimately decided the game with Union plating 12 runs across those two innings. In that span, the Damsels crushed four home runs.

The Eagles had their chances to get closer throughout the game but ultimately ended up leaving 14 total runners on base.

Helman and Swearingen had three hits apiece to lead the Youngsville offensive effort. Alyssa Gentz, Marli Rectenwald, Hailey Gray, Madison Carnahan and Marissa VanGuilder all added two hits apiece.

TUESDAY’S GAME

ROCKY GROVE (9)

Jacoby, ss, 5-2-2-1, Cratty, p-cf, 3-1-0-0, Tucker, lf, 4-2-3-2, Rice, 2b, 3-2-3-1, Mawhinney, 3b-p, 4-1-1-1, P. Cresswell, cf-3b, 3-1-0-1, Montgomery, 1b, 4-0-0-0, Z. Cressley, c, 3-0-1-1, Taylor, rf, 4-0-2-1, Totals 33-9-12-8

YOUNGSVILLE (3)

Alyssa Gentz, c, 3-1-1-0, Marli Rectenwald, lf, 3-0-0-1, Hailey Gray, cf, 3-0-1-1, Molly Helman, p, 3-0-0-0, Kamden Swearingen, 3b, 3-0-0-0, Madison Carnahan, 2b, 3-0-1-0, Ireland Abraham, ss, 2-1-0-0, Vanessa Romanosky, 1b, 3-0-0-0, Marissa VanGuilder, rf, 2-1-1-0, Totals 25-3-4-2

Rocky Grove 403 100 1 — 9 12

Youngsville 002 100 0 — 3 4

HR–Jacoby (R). WP–Cratty. LP–Molly Helman.

MONDAY’S GAME

Union 116 640 2 — 20

Youngsville 450 210 0 — 12

2B–Alyssa Gentz (Y), Molly Helman (Y), Kamden Swearingen (Y). 3B–Ireland Abraham (Y), Helman (Y), Wetzel (U). HR–Wetzel (U), Hartzen (U), Ielase (U) 2. WP–Walker. LP–Swearingen.