Farino's Three-Run Blast and Clutch Pitching Carry Merrick Patch Orioles to Second Straight Win

Isabella Farino hit the Merrick Patch Orioles' first home run of the season, a three-run blast, yesterday afternoon to lead the Orioles to their second straight win, 11-8 over the Yankees. 

Farino's homer put the Orioles up 11-8 in the third inning, but her work for the day was far from through.  The Yankees loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the fifth inning – their last chance at bat due to the two hour time limit on games – when Farino was called in to pitch. 

She quickly struck out the next two batters and got Rachel Nossen to ground out to third to seal the win and earn the game ball from Orioles manager Bob Hagerman. 

"Isabella Farino was the show," Hagerman said. "She hit our first home run and then came in like Mariano Rivera to close it out." 

It was the Yankees, though, who struck first Saturday afternoon at Merrick Road Park. 

Amanda Malandruccolo singled with the bases loaded in the top of the first to drive in two runs.  Orioles starting pitcher Tara Hagerman, behind two strikeouts, was able to limit the damage.

The Orioles charged right back when they got their chance to bat, putting up three runs, one on an RBI single from Gabby Farino.

The second inning saw the Yankees offense explode for four runs.  Back-to-back singles from Nossen and Julia Cuttitta set the stage.  Sarah Mia Encarnacion hit an RBI groundout to first to tie the score at three.

A Danielle Slevin single scored Cuttitta to put the Yankees back on top, with Marie Rose Miley later also chipping in with an RBI single. 

Miley took over pitching duties from Malandruccolo in the second inning, and she was solid.  Miley gave up a single to Hagerman and a walk, but she struck out three in the inning to hold the Orioles scoreless. 

After earning their first win of the season earlier in the week, the Orioles headed into Saturday's game hungry for more. 

"We're on a winning streak right now," Hagerman told his team before the game.  "You want to keep that going, right?" 

The players screamed, "Yes."  And in the bottom of the third inning, the Orioles proved it.  

Alex Molinari started the rally with a single.  A few runs were walked in before another Hagerman single tied the game at eight.   Then it was Farino time. 

Farino bashed a three-run bomb to clear the bases and put the Orioles up for good, 11-8.  Farino's sister, Gabby, who also had a solid game, going 2-3, followed with a single, but the inning ended since the order had batted around. 

Pitchers on both sides took over the game from there. Leah Kauderer took the mound for the Orioles in the fourth inning and shut down the Yankees, allowing only a walk and striking out two.   

Cuttitta kept the Orioles at bay in the bottom of the fourth, setting up the Yankees last chance for a comeback.  Kauderer would get into a bit of trouble in the fifth, loading the bases, but Isabella Farino quickly shut the door.

"It's always a lot of fun playing with the girls on both sides," Yankees manager John Malandruccolo said.  "We look forward to the playoffs." 

The two teams will meet again in the playoffs next Saturday, but first the Orioles will look for revenge against the Marlins on Wednesday.