North Hunterdon stands just one win from its second state title in program history.
The Lions, No. 11 in the NJ.com Top 20, received a gritty performance in the circle from Maggie Swan and some timely hitting early in the game, and pulled out a 3-2 win over Mount Olive in the Group 4 semifinals at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field at Ivy Hill Park in Newark.
The win sends North Hunterdon to the Group 4 championship game for the second year in a row, where it is slated to take on Vineland, which defeated Montgomery 8-5 in the other semifinal earlier in the day. The final will be played either Saturday or Sunday at a time to be determined at Kean University in Union.
Maggie Swan gave up just two runs on four hits for the Lions, in which she struck out five and walked none in a complete-game effort. She also helped out her own cause by driving in a run via a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Jensen Macaulay also had a sacrifice fly in the second, and the Lions were able to chase Mount Olive starter Alyssa Borozan from the game after just two innings after getting five hits. Hanily and Taylor Hucke each had two hits for North Hunterdon.
Source: Lion Athletic News No. 11 North Hunterdon advances to 2nd straight Group 4 final with 3-2 win over Mount Olive No. 11 North Hunterdon advances to 2nd straight Group 4 final with 3-2 win over Mount Olive