The Millburn softball team couldn't pull off its third straight upset on Tuesday afternoon. The Millers lost 8-0 to 10th-seeded Nutley in the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 semi-final game.
The temperature was a hair under 90 degrees at game time, but that didn't keep the Millburn fanbase from coming out and showing their support.
Millburn's Ali Graebner lead off against Nutley right-hander Kayla Huegel to begin the game. Huegel quicky retired Graebner via a ground out. Later in the inning, Bridgid Cunningham singled and stole second. Unfortunately for the Millers, Cunningham was left stranded at second base.
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Millburn starting pitcher Kaitlin Zampino, who was coming off a solid outing, toed the rubber in the bottom portion of the inning and promptly allowed a single and a walk. She was able to work around trouble and keep Nutley scoreless through the first.
It was more of the same in the second inning. Despite numerous base hits, neither team was able to push a runner across home plate. It appeared Millburn was on the verge of getting on the scoreboard in the third after Graebner singled and was bunted over to second by her Cunningham. Ultimately, though, the offense was yet again unable to bring home a baserunner.
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A half inning later, Nutley's bats started to heat up. First, Tara Petrucelli gave her team to a one-run lead with an RBI single. Huegel helped her own cause by producing an additional run. The scoring was capped off with a triple off the bat of Kristen Mattia, which brought home two runs. By the time the inning finally concluded, the damage was done and Nutley was firmly ahead by a score of 4-0.
In the following inning, Nutley's scorching offense continued and the team doubled their lead to 8-0 behind big hits from Lauren Iradi and Eileen Purcell. Nutley would never look back as Huegel held off Millburn's offense from scoring.
In the seventh, Huegel officially closed the door on the Millers when she set down the Millburn side in order. The lack of offense plagued Millburn in their final game of the 2010 season. In the last two innings of the ball game the team produced just one base hit and base runner.
Nutley's Huegel finished with a five-hit, complete game shut-out. Nutley play against South Planfield in the final round of the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 tournament.
While Millburn's season may have officially come to an end alongside the game's final out, the team finishes with a very respectable record of 16-10-0 and have a lot of promising young talent for 2011 and beyond.
