Freedom Hangs On to Defeat Potomac Falls

Thursday night saw Potomac Falls travel to take on Freedom (South Riding) in a late-season District matchup. Freedom started senior Ben Wroniwiecz on the mound and Potomac Falls started junior lefty Nate Savino (Virginia). Both teams would score three runs in the first inning and Freedom would pull ahead in the second en route to a 4-3 win.

In the top of the first, Savino led the game off with a base hit to right and then the next three Panther hitters drew walks to force in the first run of the game. Wroniwiecz got a strike out for the first out and then gave up a base hit to left-center to Trevor Hanzel that scored 2 runs to make the score 3-0. Wroniwiecz was able to get back to back comebackers to end the inning with no more damage as Potomac Falls left the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the first, Savino struck out the leadoff batter and then gave up one-out singles to Ben Williamson (William & Mary) and Drew Caroline (CNU) to put two runners on. A double steal moved both runners into scoring position and then a two-out flare into left field by Mike Meglio drove in both runs to cut the score to 3-2. The next batter, Zach Hoenig, singled to left, scoring Meglio and tying the game at 3. Savino was able to get a strikeout to end the inning with the score tied 3-3 at the end of one.

Freedom would score another run in the bottom of the second on a double steal where the throw went into leftfield, allowing the lead runner to score and giving Freedom a 4-3 lead after two innings.

Both pitchers then settled in, and Wroniwiecz ended up working into the seventh inning while only allowing one more base hit after the first. Savino got through five innings total and managed to control Freedom after his early struggles.

In the top of the seventh, after a one-out single and with the top of the order coming up, Williamson came in to pitch for Wroniwiecz. He struck out Savino and got a lineout to end the game and secure the win for the Eagles.

For Freedom, Wroniwiecz was the winning pitcher, working 6.1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 3 BB, and 4 K. Williamson got the save with 0.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K while also going 2-3 at the plate with with a stolen base and a run. Meglio was 1-3 with 2 RBIs and Hoenig was 1-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.

For Potomac Falls, Savino went 5 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 1 BB, 9 K while also going 1-4 at the plate. Hanzel was 1-3 with 2 RBIs.