What a difference a day makes.
After playing one of its worst games of the season, Murrysville responded with one of its better games.
Pitcher Ethan Raver allowed five hits and an unearned run to lead Murrysville to a 4-1 victory against Bushy Run in Game 2 of their best-of-three District 31 American Legion quarterfinal-round series.
The deciding Game 3 is 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Penn-Trafford.
Raver and catcher Anthony Jump also did a good job controlling Bushy Run’s running game, nabbing three runners attempting to steal.
“Ethan used the slide step, and Anthony used a quick release,” Murrysville coach Ryan Catello said. “Slowing them down, playing good defense and getting timely hits is something we did not get in Game 1.”
Murrysville scored all its runs in the third inning. Christian Dunn and Anthony DePaulo started with singles to left. Ryan Catello Jr. reached on a bunt that Bushy Run pitcher Rob Andrews threw late to third base to load the bases.
Chase Lemke singled home Dunn, DePaulo scored on a sacrifice fly by Liam Bernadowski and Brady Yarabinitz singled home two more runs.
“After the first inning when I struggled with control, I allowed my defense to take over,” Raver said. “It was good to be on the mound.”
Bushy Run, which stranded seven runners, scored an unearned run in the sixth inning.
Jake Sincak singled and moved to second on Jonny Lovre’s second hit of the game. An errant pickoff attempt moved Sincak to third, and he scored on a throwing error on a double-play attempt.
Lovre had a double and single. Brody Hoffman had two singles in the loss.
DePaulo had two of the eight Murrysville hits.
“We had our opportunities and did not get the key hit,” Bushy Run coach Scott Peyman said. “We just must come back Thursday and play like we did on Tuesday.
“Murrysville played a lot better defensively and got timely hitting. I am looking forward to Game 3.”
Catello said Raver has pitched well all season.
“We cut down on our errors, and we controlled the tempo,” Catello said. “We allowed them to dictate the tempo in Game 1.
“The bunt in the third inning was a big play for us, and Ethan threw a great game. That was the difference.”
In other games:
Hempfield East 2, Young Township 0 — Dane Willis and Cameron Elder combined on a one-hit shutout to lead Hempfield East Post 981 to a two-game quarterfinal sweep. Willis allowed one hit and struck out five in four innings, and Elder threw three no-hit innings. Josh Cayer doubled and drove in a run, and Brody Chismar had a single and an RBI for Hempfield East. Max Long had the hit for Young Township.
Unity 3, Latrobe 2 — Tyler Hahn singled, tripled and drove in a run, and Ethan Goughneour had a single and an RBI as Unity Post 982 knocked off top-seeded Latrobe in Game 1 of a best-of-three quarterfinal series. Luke Bulebosh allowed two unearned runs on two hits in five innings to earn the win, and Ryan Baughman pitched two scoreless innings for the save. Tyler Smith doubled and scored a run for Latrobe. Game 2 is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Seton Hill.
Lower Burrell 11, Homer City 6 – Dominick Hand went 3 for 4 with a home run to lead Lower Burrell Post 868 to a two-game sweep. Hand’s homer, a three-run shot, came with the score tied 4-4 in the fourth inning. He was also the winning pitcher, allowing one unearned run on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Jonathan Walker had two hits and two RBIs, Ryan Bates had two hits and two runs scored and Noah Matson had two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs for Lower Burrell. Brock Lewis went 4 for 4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBIs for Homer City.