When the pressure mounted, Riverside’s softball team rose to the occasion Wednesday.

The Pirates rallied from an early 3-0 deficit and pulled out a 4-3 win in eight innings over host Fairbanks to claim the outright Northwest Central Conference title.

ABBY HEABERLIN

SARA EMERICH

“We are very excited to win the league championship,” said Riverside head coach Rod Yoder. “We knew coming in that Fairbanks was very good. Their pitcher had given up no runs and only two hits in 31 innings pitched in the league with 58 strikeouts.”

Fairbanks jumped ahead early with three runs in the second inning, but Riverside battled back in the fourth to score two runs for a 3-2 score.

“It was a true test of our character and I’m really proud of the way the girls battled back after getting down 3-0,” said Yoder.

Still trailing by one run in the seventh, the Pirates’ Whitney Jenkins evened the score at 3-3 when she scored.

The Panthers were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

The eighth inning provided a dramatic turn of events for Riverside as Abby Heaberlin came through with a double with two outs. Sara Emerich then stepped up to the plate and knocked in an RBI single for the go-ahead run.

Riverside held off Fairbanks in the bottom of the eighth to claim the win and its NWCC championship.

“We had some huge hits in key situations,” said Yoder. “Megan Leiss came through with a one-out single in the seventh inning that led to us tying up the game. Abby and Sara really came up big with two outs in the eighth inning.”

Emerich came through down the stretch for Riverside as she had 10 strikeouts on the night. Yoder was also pleased with how the defense stepped up.

“We really turned things around after the second inning,” said Yoder. “In the last six innings, Fairbanks only had two girls reach base and we finished the game by retiring 10 straight batters.

“It was a great night for the Pirates and now we will turn our full attention to preparing for the sectional tournament.”

Ashley Jones had two hits, including a double and two RBI, while Heaberlin also had two hits, including a double.

Riverside is back in action today at Springfield Catholic Central.

RIVERSIDE 4, FAIRBANKS 3 (EIGHT INNINGS)
Pirates 000 200 11 — 4 7 1
Panthers 030 000 00 — 3 6 2
Emerich and Yoder; Grunert and Brill. WP—Emerich; LP—Grunert.