UV’s Bella Jones (#2) steps out of the way to allow teammate Pyper Kneale to score on a wild pitch. Kneale scored the game-winning run for the Storm in the 4-3 victory over Sidney. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NEW BERLIN – The Unadilla Valley Storm softball team pulled away with a 4-3 victory over Sidney on Thursday afternoon. UV had a 3-2 lead, going into the final seventh inning, but Sidney took advantage of a defensive error with two outs to score the tying run.

Sidney took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning as they scored runs on a fielder’s choice and a passed ball. UV answered back in the bottom half of the inning as Haleigh Fisher hit a one-out double and scored on Kailee Figger’s single.

Then, Fisher went back to the mound and pitched two shutout innings before the offense heated up in the bottom of the third. Figger hit a triple and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, but that was all the Storm could until the next inning.

After another clean inning by Fisher, Bella Jones led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single and was tremendous on the bases as she stole second and third on Adrianna Allen’s at-bat. With Jones in scoring position, Kadence York hit a two out RBI single to center field to put UV up 3-2.

Both teams were quiet until the final inning.

Fisher and the Storm went out on defense for the top of the seventh inning. Fisher allowed a base hit before striking out the next batter for the second out. UV was one out away from the win, but the tying run scored in the next at-bat. Fisher quickly got out of the inning with another strikeout, leaving it up to the offense to win this battle.

Pyper Kneale reached base on an error by Sidney and advanced to third with two outs. UV breathed a sigh of relief when Sidney’s pitcher threw a wild pitch on a 3-2 count during Bella Jones’ at-bat for Kneale to score.

Fisher struck out 15 batters in the win as UV improves to 6-2 on the season. The Storm hosts Harpursville this afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

Box Score:

Runs by Inning: R H E

Sidney:

2-0-0-0-0-0-1 3 3 5

UV:

1-0-1-1-0-0-1 4 7 1