New Palestine High School

The Class 4A No. 4 New Palestine softball team used a pair of two-run homers to power a 6-3 victory over Avon Thursday at NPHS. Katie Hirschy and Maddie Engle both homered to lead the Dragons' nine-hit attack. Hirschy's blast capped a three-run third inning that broke a scoreless tie. With runners at second and third, Paige Ernstes hit a sacrifice fly to give the Dragons the lead. Hirschy followed with a homer to left to put the Dragons up 3-0. Avon answered with a run in the top of the fourth, but the Dragons took it back when Jersi Gross reached on a three-base error and scored on Aglaia Rudd's sacrifice fly. Again, Avon cut the lead to two with a run in the fifth, but in the bottom of the inning, Alyssa Mumaw hit a one-out double and was aboard for Engle's homer to center. Avon scored a run in the sixth, but Courtney Study retired the side in order in the seventh to nail down a complete-game victory. Study scattered five hits, two earned runs and struck out five for the victory. Engle led the offense, going 3-for-3 with the two-run homer. Mumaw was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Rudd was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. In addition to Hirschy's homer, Allie Blum had a hit for the Dragons. The Dragons (2-0) are next in action Friday at Plainfield.