Fien’s Run Is Enough for Kennedy

Kennedy, winner of six league softball titles in eight years, put itself in position to win another with a 1-0 victory over El Dorado Thursday.

Little-used freshman second baseman Christen Fien, in the game as a pinch-runner, put a shoulder into catcher Carmen LoNigro’s chest, jarred the ball loose and scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to create a tie atop the Empire League standings. Each school has two games left.

Kennedy is 14-7, 7-1 in league and El Dorado is 16-6, 7-1.

Fien scored from third on Andria Bledsoe’s fly to right field. Jamie Nebeker, who had backed up to make the catch, unleashed a one-hop throw that beat Fien, but LoNigro couldn’t hang on when Fien lowered the boom.

“It was perfect,” LoNigro, fighting her emotions, said of the throw. “It’s the first time I’ve dropped a ball--ever. I don’t drop balls.”

The run beat Carrie Jeffries (12-4), who gave up three hits. Kennedy’s Traci Hensel (6-2) retired the first 12 batters before allowing the first of El Dorado’s two hits--both by Samantha Kimura. Hensel walked one.

Hensel received game-saving defense in the top of the seventh. With runners at second and third, Alicia Dowland fell while fielding Jennifer Miskov’s bouncer, but managed a throw to first base with a knee on the ground. Sophomore first baseman Kelly Bunker scooped the short-hop throw to end the inning.

Bunker led off the seventh and was safe on an error, then gave way to Fien. Freshman Crystal Eubanks followed with a double to left-center field, setting up Bledsoe’s decisive fly ball to right.