Foxborough Softball Falls to Stoughton in Extra Innings Wednesday

With the visiting Foxborough High softball team one strike away from defeat, trailing Stoughton 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday afternoon, pinch hitter Micaela Galley ripped the pitch to right field, scoring two and tying the game.

The Warriors previously held a 2-1 lead before Stoughton scored three times in the bottom of the sixth. The Black Knights put multiple base runners on again in the bottom of the seventh, but this time Foxborough pitcher Ari Zanecchia got out of a jam, and the game went into extra innings. 

In extra innings, however, Stoughton prevailed, winning 5-4 in eight innings. With the loss, Foxborough drops to 1-4, while Stoughton improves to 2-3.

Each team starts with a runner on second base in extra innings. Foxborough couldn't take advantage of the opportunity, with the third out of the inning being recorded at home. 

Stoughton, meanwhile, started its half of the eighth with Emma Zuk laying down a bunt, with the ball landing just a few feet from home plate. Zuk reached first safely and advanced runner Emma Sinkus to third. Two batters later, Sinkus came around to score the winning run. 

"Tight games in high school softball often come down to if you can get the bunt down or not, and Emma placed it perfectly." Stoughton coach Janet Sullivan said. 

Foxborough coach Mark Maguire was still pleased with his team's performance, especially their ability to bounce back after giving up the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

"I was proud of the girls. That's what we try to stress to them - don't quit, keep on fighting," he said.

Foxborough jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, with Lindsey Cunniff and Eva Mazzoni coming around to score in the top of the first. 

Stoughton responded with a run in the bottom of the first when Nicole Bodette crossed home plate, but both pitchers, Zanecchia for Foxborough and Emily Cramer for Stoughton, settled down after that, with the score remaining 2-1 in favor of Foxborough until the bottom of the sixth.

Cunniff led Foxborough on offense, reaching base four times (error, hit by pitch, and a pair of singles) and Mazzoni got on base three times, including a triple in the fifth inning.

The Warriors will look to bounce back from the Stoughton loss Friday at Westwood.