Mullaney, Noll hand Bearcats first loss

Updated: April 29, 2011 12:30AM

HAMMOND — The cold, wet weather didn’t seem to hamper the hot bat of Bishop Noll’s Rose Mullaney as the senior led the charge to defeat previously unbeaten conference rival Wheeler 4-3 Thursday.

Mullaney was instrumental in the win at the plate as the senior went 3 for 4 with a single, double, and triple and accounted for the tying and winning runs.

“This was a big win for us and I have been working real hard in practice and have been seeing the ball well of late and I guess the hard work paid off tonight,” said Mullaney.

Wheeler got on the board in the top of the third inning scoring three runs to take the 3-0 lead.

Mullaney came up in the fourth inning and connected on a shot that went deep into the right-field corner, allowing her to advance to third. Lauren Ritchie hit a single that allowed Mullaney to score from third to get within two.

In the fifth inning, Mullaney came up to the plate with two runners on base and hit a line drive to center field that scored both runners to tie the game at 3-3. Wheeler went to the bullpen and brought in Nickole Finch that settled things down as she posted five strikeouts through the fifth and sixth innings.

Wheeler (8-1, 5-1 GSSC) threatened in the sixth inning with a runner at second and one out, but a double play ended the threat.

That set things up for the dramatic bottom of the seventh. With a runner on second, Mullaney came up to bat and drove the ball into right field to bring home the winning run.

“This is a great win for our program and our girls,” an elated Bishop Noll coach Ralph Laramie said. “They have beat us seven consecutive times and we finally got one against them. I am proud of our girls for never giving up and fighting for the win to the end.”

Bishop Noll (10-4, 7-1 GSSC) utilized Vanessa Hartzell, who went the distance for the win.

“They are a very good team and they are now healthy and playing well,” Wheeler coach Marc Bruner said. “I knew that they would be good and they are showing that with the way they are playing.”

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