Different pitchers, same result.
Archbishop Spalding pitchers Carrie Parsons and Rachel Synowski each pitched one-hitters to lead the second-ranked Cavaliers to two victories in the Centennial Tournament yesterday.
Parsons struck out 14, as Spalding defeated Catholic League rival Institute of Notre Dame, 3-1, in the championship game.
Behind Synowski, the Cavaliers (3-0) had routed Hammond, 13-0, in the first round.
"Other teams might count on one pitcher. We have two strong pitchers and two backup pitchers that are decent," Spalding first-year coach Linda Taylor said.
Pitcher Lisa Riley went the distance in both games for seventh-ranked IND (2-1), which upset No. 3 Centennial, 10-3, in the first round. She gave up a combined six runs on 11 hits.
"Lisa did a good job both games, but it's a big advantage to have somebody fresh each game rather than having one girl pitch back-to-back," said IND coach Jim Ehrman, who was filling in for head coach Sandy Altadonna.
Parsons was especially overpowering. Through the first six innings, she allowed just two base runners -- Jamie City, who singled, and Shannon Skopp, who reached after the ball got past catcher Dana Fidazzo on the third strike.
The Indians mounted their only threat against the Cavaliers in the seventh. A walk, an error and three wild pitches led to IND's run. With the tying runs on base, however, Parsons struck out Katie Sowers to end the game.
Spalding had taken a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Kari Thompson (2-for-3) in the third, and added two more runs on Synowski's double in the fifth.
Synowski's hit scored Crystal Henderson (2-for-3, two runs scored) and Thompson, who each had singled with two outs.
Despite the loss, Ehrman was pleased with the Indians' effort.
"I think we were the underdog against Centennial," he said. "And I think the girls played real well against Spalding. They have better pitching than anyone else we'll see. We had the tying runs on base in the last inning. You can't really ask for much more."
IND will have ample opportunity to avenge the loss. The teams will play two more times during the regular season and a third meeting in the Catholic League Tournament is possible.
Spalding, the defending Catholic League regular-season champion, lost two of its three meetings with the Indians last season.