Karsyn Blauser slugs Dover to win
Dover's Karsyn Blauser said she wasn't mad that her second-inning smash hit the top of the fence for a double. It only looked like it the next time the catcher stepped up to the plate against Gettysburg starter Madelyn Yannetti.
One inning after staking the Eagles to an early lead with her long two-base hit to right, Blauser launched a towering three-run home run to dead center as part of a five-run third inning in Dover's 9-0 YAIAA Division II victory.
"I've been struggling with the bat a little bit," Blauser said. "I knew it was gone. It's just that feeling when you get that pitch and swing at it, hear the sound of the crack and it's gone. Big hits score runs, that's what we had to do today."
After watching her team improve to 4-1 in the division and 4-2 overall, Eagles' coach Lauren Craig was thrilled to see Blauser get out of a slump.
"I was so happy for her.So happy for her to finally do what I know she can do, and she knows she can do it," Craig said. "It's been a little struggle lately, but she finally pulled it out and just enjoyed herself."
Dover led 2-0 when Alyssa Lawton led off the home third with a sharp single through the legs of Yannetti, went to second on Jordan Baum's sacrifice and scored on Natalie Cutright's opposite-field double off the fence in left.
Cassandra Root singled in Cutright for a 4-0 Eagles' lead, and after Taylor Lamparter walked, Blauser hit her blast, a no-doubter, on a 1-0 pitch.
It was more runs than Dover hurler Lexi Gohn needed. With Blauser calling pitches, Gohn struck out 10 and allowed only three hits.
The only trouble came in the top of the fourth when Yannetti and Taylor Mummert reached on back-to-back singles with one out. Bri Crushong walked to load the bases, but Gohn got Dalyce Kump to pop up to the shortstop Cutright behind third, and then induced an inning-ending groundout to Cutright.
"When she pitches on point, which she did today, she is phenomenal," Blauser said of Gohn, who has benefitted from a more consistent changeup.
"I've been working on (the changeup). It throws them off a lot and really helps with strikeouts. I am completely comfortable with Karsyn calling it. I trust her," Gohn said before adding the benefits of pitching with a big lead. "It calms you down a lot. It's a lot less pressure when you have that much of a lead."
Dover (4-2, 4-1 Division II) scored twice more in the bottom of the fourth when Cierra Hockensmith led off with a double to the gap in left-center. The speedy Lawton followed with a bunt single, and Hockensmith sprinted home from second on the play after an error that also sent Lawton to third. Baum drove home Lawton for the final run against Gettysburg (4-4, 1-4).
"Everybody stepped up when they needed to and it was just a great, great win," Craig said.
Gettysburg0000000—031Dover052200x—990
Gb, Madelyn Yannetti, Olivia Staub (6) and Dalyce Kump. Do, Lexi Gohn and Karsyn Blauser.
SO-BB — Yannetti 4-2, Staub 0-0, Gohn 10-3; W — Gohn; L — Yannetti; 2B — Do, Blauser, Natalie Cutright, Cierra Hockensmith; HR — Do, Blauser.