Ulrich’s Solo Homer Pushes Lady Eagles Over Washington

Through the first five games of 2020, Kayla Ulrich has packed in some heroic plays.

In Sullivan’s season opener against Windsor, she swatted the game-tying single and scored the go-ahead run on some crafty baserunning.

On Monday against Washington, she cleared the fences.

Ulrich broke a 5-5 tie with a solo shot to center. It stood as the game-winner in a 6-5 victory over the Lady Jays.

Ulrich upped her average to .467 with two hits in the game. 

Sullivan (4-1) was able to hang on after jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning on a grand slam by Jaedin Blankenship.

The Lady Eagles flexed their offensive muscle early, but slumped over the next four-plus innings against Washington relievers Christine Gerling and Taylor Brown.

Gerling and Brown’s relief work allowed Washington to claw back. They scored a run in the bottom half of the first, three in the third and brought home the tying run in the fifth.

Blankenship gave the Lady Eagles a lift at the plate and in the circle as she held Washington scoreless across the final two innings.

Blankenship was called upon to get the final two outs in the third with Sullivan leading 5-3.

Washington scored on an error at first base to close the deficit to 5-4.

Following a scoreless fourth, Washington tacked on the tying run in the fifth.

The Lady Jays loaded the bases with no outs. They failed to overtake Sullivan and scored on a 6-4 fielder’s choice groundout.

Blankenship struck out Allie Huddleston with the bases loaded to keep the game at 5-5.

She finished with 4.2 innings, three hits, one run, five strikeouts and a walk.

The Lady Eagles pounced on Washington starter Madelyn Holtmeyer with a five-run first inning.

Three straight singles from Madyson Stahl, Ulrich and Johanning loaded the bases for Sophia Weirich. Weirich shot a ball into left to score one run.

Blankenship would clear the bags when she drove Holtmeyer’s pitch over the fence in center, staking the Lady Eagles to a 5-0 lead.

Johanning got the start for Sullivan and got two quick outs before issuing a walk to Holtmeyer. Holtmeyer stole second and reached third on a passed ball, then scored on an error at short.

Emma Vodnansky and Lacy Monzyk both walked with one out in the third. Holtmeyer lined a double to left to bring home both and cut the lead to 5-3.

Blankenship took over and got Taylor Brown to fly out. Myla Inman hit a grounder to first base that was misplayed, allowing Holtmeyer to score and make it 5-4.

Washington tied the game on Inman’s fielder’s choice in the fifth.

Ulrich came up with two outs in the sixth and launched a 1-2 pitch from Brown over the center field fence.