COLONIE – It took nine innings for the No. 2 Lady Raiders to get by the No. 7 Guilderland Lady Dutch on Monday, May 22, in the Class AA quarterfinals.
With two out in the bottom of the ninth, though, Madison Judge beat out a grounder between short and third for an infield hit. Sarah Baluch reached on an error and then Myaisha Kelly ripped a walk-off single up the middle for a 4-3 Colonie win.
Emily Kurtzner and Maria Tedisco split the pitching duties for Colonie giving up three runs – all in the fifth inning – on four hits while striking out 10 and not walking any.
Tedisco struck out the side in the top of the ninth and pitched four scoreless innings in relief.
Alyssa Burg and Amanda Smith teamed up on the mound for Guilderland giving up four runs, on 10 hits while striking out seven and walking three.
For Colonie at the plate, Judge went two for five with a run scored, Isabella Kieran went two for four with a run scored, Alexis Szesnat went one for five with a double while Kelly, Ciana Phillips, Emily Johnson and Mikayla Luskin each added a hit.
Four batters had hits for Guilderland: Taylor Carman, who also had two RBIs, Sara Mahar, Burg and Iris Canchela.
Colonie will play the winner of No. 6 Troy and No. 3 Ballston Spa on Wednesday, May 24, at the Luther Forest Field in Malta. That game was rained out on Monday so Troy will travel to Ballston Spa on Tuesday, May 23.