Tori Pierucci scuttled Carlmont's hopes of an unbeaten Peninsula Athletic League-Bay softball record, pitching and hitting Hillsdale past the Scots, 3-2 Thursday.
The sophomore right-hander pitched a six-hitter and got the key hit in the Knights' two-run, fourth-inning rally.
"It's absolutely incredible," Pierucci said. "I don't think there are any words (to describe it). They've always been our rivals and they've always been a good team. I've been playing against these girls since I was 12. I think it really proved something for our team and our school."
Carlmont has won 25 league titles and seven section titles since 1976.
Hillsdale's victory tightens the league race, with Carlmont (20-3 overall, 9-1 league) holding a one-game lead now over the Scots (16-8, 8-2). The performance also didn't hurt Pierucci in her arms race with fellow underclassmen Eryn McCoy (a freshman) and Ashlyn O'Keefe (a sophomore).
"We have three pitchers and we've all kind of been fighting for this position," Pierucci said. "I hope it proves to my coaches that I want to be a part of this team and I want to come out here and kick (rears) every day and play with these girls."
Carlmont took a 1-0 lead in the first on a bases-loaded walk to Mariko Kondo.
Hillsdale bounced right back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a dropped fly ball in left field for a two-base error and an RBI single by Sharona Mataele.
Scots coach Jim Liggett lamented his team's lack of execution throughout the game.
"Hillsdale played very well and we didn't," he said. "We missed a fly by in the first inning and we missed a cut-off and we didn't cover first on a bunt. You can't do that against a good team."
The Scots nudged ahead 2-1 in the third after catcher Taylor Yzaguirre hit a double - one of her three hits - and then came around to score.
But then Hillsdale pieced together its game-winning rally in the fourth after Courtney Tyler was hit by a pitch and Mataele smacked the second of her two hits.
Kara Ronberg followed with a bunt single, but then was promptly picked off first base by Yzaguirre. Undeterred, Pierucci lined a solid single into right to bring home the tying and eventual winning run.
"Give Hillsdale credit -- they played well and their pitcher threw well and they deserved to win," Liggett said.
Rebecca Faulkner shined in the circle for the Scots, allowing four hits, striking out seven and walking nobody.
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John Murphy can be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com and followed on Twitter @PrepCat
