Buckeye drops 4-3 decision to Brunswick on walk-off homer

Buckeye came within one out of extending the game, but Brunswick answered on the final play Saturday for a 4-3 win at Brunswick High School Softball Field. With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Miller lifted a solo home run to left field to end it and hand the Bucks a tough one-run loss.

The setback was especially frustrating for Buckeye because the Bucks controlled much of the action at the plate, finishing with an 11-7 edge in hits. Eleanor Shaw paced the offense from the middle of the lineup, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Faith Shaw added a 2-for-4 day with a double as Buckeye consistently put pressure on Brunswick starter Kaye.

Brunswick broke through first in the bottom of the third inning. An error helped open the door, and Miller followed with a single down the left-field line that brought in a run as Brunswick built a 2-0 lead. The Bucks kept chipping away and eventually drew even, with Eleanor Shaw delivering one of the biggest swings of the afternoon. Her single down the left-field line in the top of the seventh tied the score at 3 and gave Buckeye late momentum.

Olivia Piovarchy started for Buckeye going a strong 5 1/3 innings. She allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits, struck out five and walked three. Kaye went the distance for Brunswick, earning the win after allowing 11 hits and three runs, one earned, across seven innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

Miller finished 2-for-4 and drove in two runs to lead Brunswick's lineup. Kaye and Diamond also collected two hits apiece for Brunswick. For Buckeye, the offensive production was there throughout the order, but the Bucks could not turn their hit total into the extra run they needed before the final swing changed the game.

Buckeye next travels to Berea-Midpark on Saturday.