Southern Tier Sports ReportCHILI — For the second straight season the Corning Hawks season came to an end at the hands of Lancaster.
A year ago Lancaster topped Corning in the NYS Final Four, before they went on to win the state title.
On Saturday defending state-champion Lancaster, ranked 5th in the Class AAA state rankings, topped the Hawks, ranked first in the state, in the regional championship, 3-1.
It was a 1-0 Corning lead after the first inning as Matti Johnston opened the game with a single. She moved to second on a Lauren DeRosa sacrifice and scored on a Sophie Schoonover single.
Johnston was perfect on the mound through five innings, but in the sixth inning the Lancaster offense got going. Alyssa Brunner led off the inning with a home run.
The next batter singled and stole second and scored on an error and with two outs another single put Lancaster up 3-1.
Maddy Matthews threw a five-hitter for Lancaster, striking out eight against one walk.
Johnston threw a three-hitter, striking out seven against no walks, allowing three runs, one earned.
Katie Grover and Schoonover each had two hits for Corning, with Schoonover driving in the run. Johnston had the other hit, and the run scored.
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STSR FILE PHOTO.
