Fresh off a career milestone and a tight loss, Riley Miller made sure Hempfield softball bounced back on senior day.
The senior ace, who reached 500 strikeouts in her previous outing — a 2-1 loss to rival and No. 2 Seneca Valley — helped the top-ranked Spartans return to form Wednesday by pitching a one-hitter in a 10-0, run-rule victory over Pine-Richland at Kalp Field.
Hempfield (17-1, 13-1) was swift from the start, scoring five runs in the first inning and five in the second on the way to a five-inning win and a sweep of the Rams (12-6, 9-6), who upset Seneca Valley twice by scores of 3-2 and 9-8.
Hempfield wasn’t sure what to expect from Pine-Richland, even though it beat the Rams, 12-3, earlier in the season. It was one-hit against Seneca Valley and ace pitcher Lexie Hames.
“Coach Tina (Madison) was probably more mad (about the loss) than us,” Miller said. “I try not to think about it too much. I am really excited about getting the milestone.”
Senior Morgan Walt went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, junior Raegan Reamer had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs, junior Claire Mitchell homered and senior Allie Cervola had a two-run double for Hempfield, which stayed in the thick of the section title chase with two games left.
The Spartans had 10 hits and walked six times.
“It was a rough 24 hours,” Hempfield coach Tina Madison said of the time after Monday’s loss, the Spartans’ first of the season. “I think we got over it. This was a big game. We didn’t take (Pine-Richland) lightly.”
Cervola and Reamer hit back-to-back two-run doubles in the first, and Walt added an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Mitchell led off the second with a solo homer to left center before Reamer and Walt delivered RBI singles.
Senior Mia Shipman, who got the start at first base, ripped another run-scoring single to make it 10-0.
Hempfield has outscored its opponents 173-20.
“We did it for the seniors,” said Reamer, a first-year starter. “Coming off the loss, we were up and ready. There are some big names on that (senior) list. I remember watching girls come through the program. It’s such a surreal experience. Now I’m them.”
Pine-Richland started sophomore Keelee Kalinoski in the circle but pulled her after four straights walks in the first. Freshman Ellie Myers pitched into the third before Kalinoski reentered.
Miller, a Kent State commit, allowed just a two-out single to senior Maddy Myers in the third. She struck out five and walked none.
“Our defense was nonstop today,” Miller said. “Lou (Lauren Howard), Allie, they made some great plays. We put a lot of balls in play.”
Senior catcher Calle Henne, a Pitt commit, grounded out twice.
Madison was impressed by Miller’s accomplishment. She also topped 500 Ks when she pitched for the Spartans as Tina Skelly, ringing up 598 from 1998-2001 before playing at Penn State.
Jaci Kalp (1993-96) has the team record with 997 Ks. Morgan Ryan (2014-17) has 584 and Lauren (Shaheen) Armanious (2003-06) 577.
“I am so happy for Riley,” Madison said. “It’s a cool stat. And when you look at the (pitchers with 500 Ks), that’s 20 years.”
Hempfield has two section games left: Friday at Norwin and a rematch Tuesday at home with Seneca Valley.