WESTWOOD, Mass. - Foxboro went on the road on Thursday afternoon and although it was a cold, blustery day at Westwood High, the Warriors bats were red hot.
Foxboro scored five runs in the top of the first and never looked back, as the Warriors cruised to a 16-3 victory that bumped them back above .500 at 3-2. The Warriors were led by youth, as freshman Lexi Buckner had two hits, scored four runs and drove in five and her classmate Hannah Davis chipped in with a 4-5 day in the leadoff spot.
“The girls have been hitting the ball pretty well,” said Foxboro coach Mark Maguire. “The game against Dedham [on Wednesday], they didn’t hit the ball as well but our first five batters can really hit the ball.”
Those hitters jumped all over Westwood starter Dana Bamford in the first. Davis started the game with a single to left followed by senior captain Lindsey Cunniff, who did the same. Senior catcher Brianna Stern ripped a double to left that drove in Davis with the first run and Buckner reached on a fielder’s choice bunt when Cunniff beat the play to the plate.
Kelly Fisher followed with an RBI-groundout for the first out of the inning. Baylee DaCosta bunted for a base hit and advanced to second on a throwing error. After Ryann McGowan bounced back to the pitcher, Carolynn Will singled to right to bring in DaCosta with the fifth run.
About the top of the lineup, Maguire said, “Hannah gets the bat on the ball and makes things happen on the bases and Lindsey Cinniff has really been hitting the ball and finding a way to get on base. Bri got hurt but she’s putting the bat on the ball and Lexi Buckner really broke out today.”
Westwood got one back in the bottom of the first, but Foxboro came right back in the second to score three more. Davis again led-off with a single, this time to center, and would steal second and third. After a flyball to center, Stern was hit by a pitch in the foot and would be forced to leave the game. Davis scored on a passed ball and then Buckner lined a double to center to plate a run. She would come around to score on an RBI-groundout by Kelly Fisher.
Stern’s replacement in the lineup was Jenna Weinstein, who was normally the starting shortstop but was getting a day off to rest an injury. Davis moved behind the plate and Cunniff moved from short to third.
“Lindsey is just a great kid that you can put anywhere in the field and she’s going to make your team better,” said Maguire. “She’s just one of those quality character players that is good because you can move her where you need.”
Weinstein would have five put-outs after taking over at short and would make a great play up the middle to rob Emily Buonato of a single in the sixth inning. Meanwhile, Cunniff would have four assists after moving to third.
Maguire noted, “[Bri] hurt that before and we just didn’t want to take any chances. If she needed to she could have gone back in. Hannah does a great job back there and she’ll be our catcher for her sophomore to senior years.”
Foxboro took a 9-3 lead into the sixth. Cunniff led off with an infield single, Weinstein grounded out, and Buckner walked putting runners at first and third. Fisher picked up her second RBI on an infield single and DaCosta followed with a bloop to right that scored two and made it 12-3.
In the seventh, Foxboro would tack on four more runs. Three of those runs came on a bases clearing triple by Buckner who ripped a shot just off the tip of the rightfielder’s outstretched glove.
In the circle, Katherine Keller picked up her third win of the season. The senior gave up a run in the first and two in the fourth, but would retire 10 of the final 11 batters that she faced. She struck out two, gave up seven hits and walked only one hitter.
After losing to Dedham on Wednesday, Maguire was pleased to see his team bounce back, “I had a tough time sleeping last night because I was like man we have to win this game. We’ve been playing the last few years and it’s a good situation because we’re right around each other.”
Foxboro will try to keep the momentum going on Monday against Davenport Division rival Oliver Ames.
Josh Perry can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.