Melillo powers Buckeye past Westlake 17-0 in five innings
Buckeye opened conference play with a decisive performance Wednesday, rolling past Westlake 17-0 in five innings at Buckeye Senior High School behind a big day from Juliana Melillo and a sharp outing from Lilly Young.
The decisive blow came in the second inning, when Melillo launched a three-run home run to center field as part of a seven-run frame that broke the game open. Melillo finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, including an RBI double in the first inning that helped Buckeye build an early cushion. The Bucks improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Buckeye seized control in the bottom of the first. An error brought home the opening run, Eleanor Shaw added a sacrifice fly, Kelsey Morano doubled in two more, and Melillo followed with her RBI double. That four-hit start gave the Bucks a 5-0 lead. They added seven more runs on six hits in the second inning. Morano singled in two runs, Melillo delivered her home run, Sarah Michaels added an RBI single, and another Westlake error pushed the margin further.
The offense stayed productive throughout the lineup. Morano, batting seventh, drove in a team-high five runs while going 2-for-4. Cassie Minarchick went 3-for-4, and Maddie Wilhelm collected two hits in three at-bats and stole two bases. Ryenne Ford added a double to center field in the third inning as Buckeye stretched the lead to 14-0 before finishing with 16 hits overall.
Young handled the rest in the circle. She worked five scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out seven and did not issue a walk. Westlake managed one hit each from Rocco and Horvath, but Buckeye never let the visitors build any momentum. Westlake starter Loucka allowed 11 hits and 12 runs over two innings, with all 12 runs ruled unearned.
Buckeye was just as clean defensively as it was dangerous at the plate. The Bucks did not commit an error, turned one double play, and got 10 fielding chances from Eleanor Shaw. After a complete all-around effort in the conference opener, Buckeye is scheduled to return to action Thursday at Highland.
