Hawks’ offense rallies behind Alfiere

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WATERTOWN — On a rare day when Woodland pitcher Katie Alfiere didn’t dominate her opponents, the Hawks’ hitters did.

The Hawks scored 10 runs in a three-inning span and pounded out 11 hits in a 10-4 victory over Watertown at Veterans Park Monday. With the win, the Hawks remain undefeated at 15-0.

Aubrey Roulanaitis went four-for-four with two RBIs and two runs scored for the Hawks, who scored six-runs in a game-changing fifth inning.  Alfiere tossed a complete game, struck out 13 and reached base in all four of her plate appearances with two walks and two singles.

The Hawks showed they can come back and win when their star pitcher isn’t at the top of her game.

“It’s very important,” Hawks coach Loren Luddy said.  “You can’t rely on your pitcher all the time.”

With the Hawks down 2-0 in the fourth, Roulanaitis started a rally with a line-drive double into the left-center gap off of Watertown starter Cate Lucewicz.

“I was just trying to get up there and get us going,” Roulanaitis said.

She succeeded.  Alfiere followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners.

Katie Lembo, who recorded three RBIs, two hits and two runs, delivered next.

Lembo laced a two-run double to tie the game. She later scored when Emily Wirsing grounded out.

Watertown tied the game in the bottom of the fourth.  In the fifth, the Hawks took control.

Lindsay Boland began the rally with a one-out walk, stole second and scored on a single from Roulanaiti.  After Alfiere walked, Lembo singled, driving Roulanaitis home and bringing the score to 5-3.

Becca Norton continued the inning with a walk. Wirsing and Amanda Gomez followed with back-to-back two-run doubles to make it 9-3.

“Someone is always hitting for us,” Roulanaitis said. “When someone is not hitting, someone else is, and vice versa.”

Watertown had taken an early lead when Nikki Thomas smashed Alfiere’s first pitch up the middle for a hit. Two batters later, Nikki Hodorowski drilled a 3-1 pitch to right-center to score Ali Brown, who pinch ran for Thomas.

Nikki Mancinone, the Indians’ clean-up hitter, singled Hodorowski home.

After the first inning, Alfiere settled down.  She retired eight in a row at one point, allowed one three hits over the last six innings and six of her last nine outs were strikeouts.

Luddy was impressed with her team’s resolve.

“The team never gets down on kids that are struggling,” Luddy said.  “They pick them up.”