Softball: Warhawks Win Showdown With McLean

In a Friday showdown between Madison and McLean High schools, whose softball teams share second place in the Liberty District, the Warhawks came out on top, beating the Highlanders 7-4 to move ahead to 5-1 in district play.

Madison is now 9-3 overall.

The game started out as a pitcher's duel as both pitchers kept the offenses quiet early.

Madison's bats struck first as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. It's a lead the Warhawks extended to 4-0 and held on to until the sixth inning,  when the McLean offense rallied to tie the game 4-4 going into the seventh.

But the rally reignited Madison's offense, as the Warhawks added three runs in the top of the seventh to win the game 7-4.

Elizabeth Fallas and Kelsey Ross shared time on the mound for the Warhawks, with Fallas going five innings and giving up two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts.

Ross pitched the final two innings to earn the win, giving up no runs on one hit and striking out two.

Madison's bats came alive against the Highlanders, recording a total of 12 hits, including three extra base hits.

Five Warhawks had multi-hit games: Fallas (2 for 4, double, 2 RBIs); Tori Lipnicky (2 for 4, RBI); Ally Grasso (2 for 4, 2 doubles); Kristyn Buscemi (2 for 4); and Brittany Powers (2 for 4).

Mary Bolinger (1 for 3, 2 RBIs) and Ross (1 for 4) contributed the other hits for the Warhawks. 

Madison plays tonight against Thomas Jefferson High School and on Friday against Fairfax, both at home.

Warhawk sports contributed reporting to this article.