Defense the Key in Stoughton's 3-2 Win over Foxborough Softball

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the 7th inning at Stoughton Monday afternoon, Foxborough’s Briana Goold laid down a bunt with one out and Vicky Solomon on first.

Stoughton catcher Molly Zuk fielded the bunt, fired to first, but hit Goold in the back with the ball, with Solomon advancing to third and Goold to second, putting the Warriors in position to take the lead in the final inning.

However, Goold was called out for running inside the baseline, and as a result, Solomon had to return to first. When a runner is trying to beat out a bunt, she has to run outside the baseline in foul territory. If she runs on the baseline or inside the baseline, she is called out.

So, instead of runners on second and third and one out, there was a runner on first and two outs. Joanna Magnuson grounded out to first for the final out, with the Stoughton High softball team taking a 3-2 victory at home.

With the win, Stoughton improves to 6-8 and Foxborough falls to 2-12.

“That was a big turning point in the game,” Stoughton coach Janet Sullivan said of the bunt attempt. “That was a great defensive play on Molly’s part and credit the umpire for knowing the rules and making a tough call.”

“It completely changed the game and it’s a tough situation, but it happens and you have to move on,” Foxborough coach Lauren Cucinotta said.

Stoughton’s defense was key in their victory.

In the top of the sixth inning, trailing by the same 3-2 score, Foxborough’s Chelsey Laracy was on third and Julia Robichaud was on second with just one out, but pitcher Brenna Connolly lined out to Stoughton’s Jordan Angelos at third, and she stepped on the third base bag to complete the unassisted double play and end the Foxborough threat. 

“I thought the defense won the game today because Foxborough is a much improved team, they got their bat on the ball this time around,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan was particularly impressed with Angelos at third, who was filling in for the injured Nicole Barton.

“[Angelos] did a super job,” Sullivan said. Good glove, fielded the bunts, pulled off a double play by herself; [she] had a great game there.”

Stoughton took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Colleen Flaherty led off with a bunt single and Nicole Hayner brought her home with a double two batters later. Pitcher Jess Olans knocked in Hayner with a single.

Unlike the first game these two teams played earlier this season, the Foxborough bats responded this time around, tying the game at 2-2 in the third when Solomon and Magnuson came around to score.

However, Stoughton came right back to retake the lead in the bottom of the third when Megan Flaherty doubled with two outs and Olans singled to bring her home, putting the Black Knights up 3-2.

Both coaches gave credit to their starting pitchers for their respective performances.

“As always, Jessie [Olans] did a great job on the mound and I wouldn’t have any other catcher but Molly Zuk,” Sullivan said.

“[Connolly] has been doing well, moving the ball a lot, keeping people off balance, not getting frustrated” Cucinotta said. “She’s being a true leader on the mound right now.”

“I thought it was a great game,” Cucinotta added. “I thought my girls played really well. They had a couple of unfortunate double plays when you really can’t do anything [to prevent it].”

Foxborough travels to Canton on Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. game. Stoughton next plays Quincy on the road on Friday in a non-league game.