New Palestine High School

The New Palestine softball team won a wild game Monday, using a 10-run inning to take the lead, then holding off a late charge to beat host Noblesville 18-16. The Dragons hit five homers - Paige Ernstes hit two and drove in six runs, while Katie Hirschy hit two solo shots and Allie Blum added another. They also had 18 hits, One of Ernstes' homers was a grand slam. The Dragons got going quickly, taking a 3-0 lead four batters into the game, as Jersi Gross walked, Blum drove her in with a double to center, After a caught stealing, Sydney Oliver walked and Ernstes blasted a two-run homer to center. Hirschy later followed with a homer to left. But Noblesville answered in the bottom of the frame with two two-run homers, then took a 6-4 lead with two runs on three hits in the second. Hirschy's second solo homer of the day drew the Dragons back within one in the third, but they stranded two in the frame. Noblesville re-took a two-run lead at 7-5 with a walk and a double in the bottom of the inning. The Dragons seized the lead with a 10-run fourth. A walk to Gross and singles by Blum and Oliver loaded the bases for Ernstes, who hit an 0-2 pitch over the centerfield fence for a grand slam, putting NP up 9-7. The inning continued, as the Dragons loaded the bases on two hit batters and a double by Hirschy. Saydie Miller drove in a run with a groundout. Ella Holman followed with a two-run single. After a walk to Gross, Blum blasted a three-run homer to left to put the Dragons up 15-7. Noblesville answered with a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 15-10. After retiring the Dragons in order in the fifth and sixth, the Millers clawed closer on a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 15-12 game. In the seventh, the Dragons built some much-needed insurance, as Oliver and Ernstes led off with singles. Maddie Engle drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. After an intentional walk to Hirschy and a base hit by Reese Rosenbaum loaded the bases, Payton Dye plated two runs with a single. Leading 18-12, the Dragons saw one final comeback push from Noblesville, whith hit a solo homer, an RBI double and a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 18-16, but a groundout to short ended the contest. Blum was 3-for-6 with two runs and four RBI. Ernstes was 3-for-5 with two runs and six RBI. Hirschy was 3-for-4 with four runs and two RBI. She had a double to go along with her two solo homers. Oliver was 2-for-4 with three runs. Rosenbaum was also 2-for-4. Holman was 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI. Engle was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Miller was 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Dye was 1-for-2 with two RBI. Gross walked five times and scored a run in six plate appearances. Sadey Hughbanks earned the pitching win in relief. Cailyn Hurst earned the save, with 3 2/3 innings of relief and maintaining the lead. The Dragons (7-0) are back in action Tuesday at home against New Castle.