COAL TOWNSHIP - In extra innings, the microscope is always a little larger, the margin for error smaller.
Just ask Mount Carmel.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, Mount Carmel got exactly what it wanted - namely, Lourdes' CharLee Rosini to hit a ground ball to shortstop Jocelyn Darrup.
The junior had played near-flawless defense all game. She backed up teammates, showed off arm strength that defies her diminutive status and had a hand in five outs for the Red Tornadoes.
But one questionable decision, to go home with the ball with the bases loaded instead of tagging a passing runner for the third out and an ensuing high throw gave the Red Raiders the slightest of edges in a 6-5 opening-day win over the Tornadoes on Monday.
"It can't get any better," Lourdes' head coach Scott Long said following his debut as skipper for the Red Raiders.
"It's a situation we look for and (CharLee) came through again. She hit the ball hard."
After Mount Carmel stranded two runners in the top of the eighth, Lourdes got a 1-out pinch-hit single from Angelique Pennypacker, followed by a double by Ania Rawa.
Sophomore Nikki Komara grounded to Darrup, who had to come home with the ball to cut down Pennypacker for the second out and keep her from scoring the winning run.
Mount Carmel pitcher Ashley Koschoff then walked Peyton Klembara before Rosini stepped into the box.
The game looked to be headed for the ninth inning when Darrup's throw was just a little high, forcing catcher Tori Chapman to jump for the ball, leaving the plate exposed for Rawa to sneak in and score.
"It's gonna happen," Mount Carmel head coach Jake Wojcik said. "But overall, I was pleased.
"She had a lot of good plays, she just went to the wrong place with that one. She could have tug the girl, but eh."
Rosini also picked up the win in the circle for the Raiders, throwing all eight innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out seven.
Mount Carmel put the ball in play often against Rosini and had nine hits (three by Chapman), but stranded nine baserunners and had two other runners make outs on the bases.
Koschoff was the hard-luck loser for the Tornadoes, giving up just three earned runs while striking out nine Raiders.
"This was a must win," Long said. "We were coming in against the weather conditions which we can't control, but it turned out to be a great day for softball."
MOUNT CARMEL (AB-R-H-BI) - Darrup 3-1-2-0, Spieller 4-1-1-0, Shamus 4-0-0-1, Chapman 4-0-2-1, Lentini 0-2-0-0, Frasch 3-0-1-0, C. Avellino 0-0-0-0, Koschoff 3-1-1-0, Resendes 3-0-2-1, Horsfield 4-0-0-0, D. Avellino 4-0-0-0, Danilowicz 0-0-0-0. Totals 32-5-9-3.
LOURDES (AB-R-H-BI) - Komara 5-1-0-1, Klembara 4-1-1-0, Rosini 5-0-1-1, Raybuck 4-1-1-2, Kuehner 4-0-0-0, Long 4-0-1-0, Koshinskie 4-0-0-0, Getchey 1-1-1-1, Pennypacker 1-0-1-0, Rawa 4-2-2-1. Totals 36-6-8-6.
Extra-base hits: Mount Carmel - Chapman, double. Lourdes - Rosini, double; Rawa, double, triple.
Mount Carmel 000 230 00 - 5 9 2
Lourdes 002 030 01 - 6 8 3
IP H R ER BB K
Mount Carmel
Koschoff (0-1) 7.2 8 6 5 2 9
Lourdes
Rosini (1-0) 8 9 5 4 5 7