Belmont Softball Hangs Tough With Stoneham

The Belmont High School softball team held its own Friday, hosting the Middlesex League's top team.

The Marauders (0-7, 0-6) were only down 5-4 heading into the fifth inning against Stoneham (7-2, 7-1) thanks to a six-hit, four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth.

"Our bats really caught fire today," Belmont Head Coach Stacie Marino said.

Stoneham, coming off a 15-7 win over two-time defending state champion Lexington on Wednesday, April 30, eventually won the contest 10-5.

Marino said, despite the loss, her team played its best game of the season. "Everyone really stepped up today," she said. "We finally found the momentum we've been searching for, and, hopefully, we can carry it forward."

Third baseman Catherine Tocci got the fourth-inning rally started with a leadoff double. Shortstop Brianna Gallagher, who had three hits on the day, followed with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs.

Senior Danielle Carter got Tocci home on a fielder's choice; then first baseman Victoria McKay and second baseman Catherine Noone singled to load the bases with two outs.

Next up, sophomore Stacey Brandt hit an RBI single, making it 5-2. In the top half of the inning, Brandt made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch in left field, saving at least two runs and possibly more.

Marino then pinch-hit sophomore Jodi Carter, who slugged a two-run double to left, pulling her team within one. "She's great under pressure," Marino said.

The Marauders got one more in the seventh when Gallagher hit a triple to the left-field fence, scoring center fielder Mira Fung and making the final 10-5.

Fung was rock solid in center all day and gunned down one Spartan, trying to score from third, at the plate to end the fifth.

Belmont got a solid pitching performance from Erin Reilly, who struck out six, including five in the first two innings. "I thought [Reilly] really set the tempo for our team," Marino said.

Reilly gave up five earned runs through six and a third. Despite playing good defense most of the day, the Marauders dropped two key fly balls, in the fourth and fifth, which led to four runs.

Stoneham's shortstop, Shannon Torosian, and second baseman, Jennie Lacolla, each had two RBI.

Belmont will travel to play Watertown at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, May 3.