Wildcats Take Late Lead, Hold on to Beat St. Paul's

With two out and the game tied at two in the fifth inning, Stella Kozak singled home Adi Runge for what would be the winning run in KUA's 3-2 win over an excellent St. Paul's team on Monday in Meriden. St. Paul's grabbed a 1-0 lead after the first inning, but the Wildcats pulled even in the bottom of the third when Olivia Parker walked, Anna Baker laid down a bunt single, and Runge singled home Parker to tie the game. St. Paul's took the lead back in the top half of the fourth, but KUA responded again when Maddy Pope put down a sacrifice bunt and heads-up base running from Kozak led to a St. Paul's error that allowed Kozak to score. Runge was outstanding on the mound, going the full seven innings while striking out five and allowing only two earned runs. Defensively, the infield of Baker, Kozak, Lulu Leppard, Parker, and Zoie Stevens behind the plate was outstanding, with Kozak making a game-saving play in the top of the seventh to prevent the tying run from scoring and Baker snagging a backhand liner before throwing to first for the final out.