Opportunities knocked twice for the Jonathan Dayton softball Bulldogs and they managed to capitalize on the second one, which was just enough to slip them past the hosting Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders, 42, in a regular-season game on May 7. The victory boosted the defending Union County Champion Bulldogs’ record to 10-8, while the Raiders slipped to 12-5.

With Bulldog pitcher Lila Carroll, who went the distance, and Raider starter Maddie Bogart, along with reliever Emily Roof, hits were very hard to come by. Carroll recorded eight strikeouts, while yielding six hits, a walk and three hit batters. Bogart recorded six strikeouts and allowed three hits in four innings but three of the six walks that she allowed would become very costly. Roof entered in the fifth inning and struck out nine of the 10 batters she faced, including eight straight before she yielded a single in the seventh inning. “Dayton is a good team, and unfortunately in our two games against them we weren’t at our best,” Raider Head Coach Matt Giannacio said. “At this point in the season our play needs to be more consistent, and hopefully we can bounce back today against Livingston.”

Offensively, Roof provided the most impressive clout with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Lara Fox went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Olivia DiSalvo singled and walked once. Sam Friscia and Natalie DiFabrizio both ripped a double. Harper Shimko was hit-by-a-pitch twice andAngelina Valente was hit once.

Bulldog Julianna Santangelo drilled a key two-run double and scored once. Abi Trenk had an RBI single and walked once. Charlie Badalamenti beat out a bunt single and Angela Gallo singled. Carroll walked twice and her courtesy runner Aubrie Cantagallo scored once.Avita Kandel walked and scored and Ashley Weber walked twice and scored once.

After Bogart retired the Bulldogs 12-3 in the top of the first inning, the Raiders scored both of their runs in the lower portion of the inning. Fox lined a single down third and Roof launched her two-run home run over the leftfield fence. DiSalvo followed with a oneout single up the middle but Carroll fanned the next two batters.

The Dayton second inning began with Bogart walking Carroll, Weber and Trenk, respectively. Bogart managed to strike out Olivia Douglas then Santangelo lined out to right fielder Sam Marcolina, who got the ball back home in time for catcher Sam Friscia to put the tag on Carroll’s courtesy runner Cantangelo for the third out.

DiFabio slashed a one-out double down the first base line in the Raider third inning. Carroll struck out Marcolina then hit Shimko but struck out Fox to escape the inning. The Raiders went down 1-2-3 in the third but in the Dayton fourth, once again, Bogart walked the first three batters Kandel, Carroll, Weber – respectively.

Trenk dribbled an RBI single past third and Douglas struck out. Santangelo wiggled a two-run single out of the reach of first baseman DiSalvo. Bella Pintado’s bunt resulted in a putout at the plate then Badalamenti beat out a bunt as the throw sailed wide of DiFabrizio covering first, allowing Santangelo to score the fourth run of the inning.

The Raiders failed to put up any offense in the fourth and in came Roof, who struck out all three Bulldogs in the fifth. Fox got aboard with a two-out double to leftfield in the fifth but Roof’s sizzling liner burned straight into the glove of second baseman Pintado. Roof struck out all three Bulldogs in the sixth.

A Raider rally seemed to be on hand in the sixth. DiSalvo drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by Avery Klotz as the pinch runner. Friscia slammed a double down the right field line but base running confusion followed. Klotz got caught in a rundown between third and home and Friscia got caught in a rundown between second and third for a double play. Bogart popped out to right field for the third out.

Roof fanned the first two Bulldogs in the seventh, ceded a single to Gallo then struck out Kandel. Carroll was still on her game on the mound, got DiFabrizio to ground out to first and struck out Sarina Llano. She had a little hiccup and hit Shimko but struck out Fox.

The Raiders would be home again when they compete in the second round of the Union County Tournament on May 10.

“We are looking forward to the UCT for sure, it should be very interesting to say the least,” Coach Giannachio expressed.

Dayton 000 400 0 4 Sc Pl-Fanwood 200 000 0 2