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STAMFORD, Conn. After giving up the lead to Darien in the top of the fifth on a pair of solo home runs, Allison Macari could have panicked.
Instead, the Westhill softball ace retired eight of the next 10 batters to keep the Vikings in striking distance.
Tammy Wise drove in the game-tying run in the bottom of the frame with the go-ahead run scoring on a Darien error. Macari stranded a Blue Wave runner in the seventh and Westhill escaped with a gutsy 5-4 victory Friday.
Macari praised her teammates for backing her up against one of Westhills toughest foes in the conference.
There was pressure to do well, but I think it showed that our team is that much stronger than we think, she said. I knew I had my team behind me so thats when I focused on just throwing instead of pitching.
Westhill had to juggle personnel issues to start the game after starting shortstop Kate Brainard was a late scratch. The Vikings were unsettled on defense to start the game, committing two errors right out of the gate. That led to an early 2-0 Darien lead.
The Vikings responded quickly, striking for three runs off Dariens ace, Jess DeMaio. The big blow came on a two-run double crushed to center field by Elizabeth Joseph.
The game stayed that way until the top of the fifth when Darien freshman Erika Osherow clobbered a Macari change-up to left for a homer. Two batters later, Olivia Gozdz homered to right-center to put the Blue Wave up by one.
Yet, in the end, Westhill would not be denied.
Dariens a great team and you know you have to bring your A-game, Westhill head coach Tom Pia said. We didn't quit in this game where certain kids would have folded last year. This is a different team and its nice.
Westhill (4-1) travels to Bassick for a 4 p.m. game Monday.
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