Fowler’s hit helps Trojans beat 59ers

Updated: May 9, 2011 10:46PM

HIGHLAND — With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the bases loaded and a full count, Highland’s Brooke Fowler delivered the Trojans’ biggest hit of the season.

The senior center-fielder hit a three-run, walk-off double to give the struggling Trojans an improbable 5-4 victory over conference-leading Andrean.

“I’ve had a home run this season, but nothing that’s felt as good as this,” Fowler said. “The pitch was a little outside maybe, but I wasn’t expecting such a good pitch to hit.”

It was the game’s second comeback for Highland (7-12, 3-7) as the Trojans knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run triple by first baseman Leah Podgorny. The drive off the left-center wall scored Fowler, who had led off the inning with a single, and Tiffany Morton, who had walked one out later.

The tie didn’t last long, though, as a pinch-hitting Kaitlyn Bridgeman led off the top of the fifth inning with a first-pitch bomb over the left field fence for Andrean. The 59ers scored a second run in the inning on Morghyn Neal’s RBI-double to stake the 59ers to a 4-2 lead, which they held until Fowler’s heroics.

“We battled back a little bit throughout the game,” said Highland coach Erin Zeller. “We never stopped fighting.”

Andrean (16-4, 8-2) kicked off the scoring via the game’s first three batters. Leadoff batter Savannah Kinsella started things off with a single up the middle, then moved to third base on Kelly Ryan’s double to left-center.

Kaitlyn Barajas then delivered the RBI-single and the 59ers had a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

Andrean struck again in the top of the third inning starting with a two-out single by Barajas. Andrean coach Henry Ryan pinch-ran Natasha Zurek for Barajas and it proved to be a good decision as Zurek scored all the way from first on a single by Neal that got away from the Highland outfielder.

“Right now we’re not playing focused,” Henry Ryan said. “We have to play a full seven innings.”

Lauren Bultema (7-9) got the win for the Trojans, scattering 10 hits while striking out five. Fowler and Podgorny each had a pair of hits for Highland, while Morton reached base three times on a single and a pair of walks. Brenna Boyle (1-2) took the loss for Andrean.

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