Mathews drops 5-3 state semifinal softball game to Monroeville
The Mathews softball team fought hard, but the Mustangs couldn’t overcome four hits from Monroeville senior shortstop Abbi Poths, including a towering home run in the seventh inning, in a 5-3 loss Thursday in a state semifinal game at Firestone Park in Akron.
Maddy Hufford led Mathews with three hits.
Olivia Matheny took the loss for Mathews. She struck out 13 Monroeville batters.
Monroeville took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning before Matheny struck out three Monroeville batters to get out of an early jam.
Hufford and Matheny hit back-to-back triples in the first inning to give Mathews a 2-1 lead after one inning.
Later, the Mustangs took a 3-2 lead on an Asia Pate single in the fourth inning before Monroeville tied the game in the fifth and won in the seventh.
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