While the East Brunswick baseball team was celebrating its GMCT title on Wednesday, the Bear softball team was not as fortunate.
The Lady Bears lost a heartbreaking final, 2-1 to Middlesex in 13 innings, when Blue Jay pitcher Erica Lordi singled home Meghan Reilly with the winning run, ending a classic pitcher’s duel.
East Brunswick pitcher Gina Pensavalle was stellar in defeat, retiring Middlesex in order in the eighth through 12th innings, but surrendered a walk to Reilly to lead off the 13th, before setting up the game-winning hit with a wild pitch.
Pensavalle, who finished with a six-hitter with two walks and eight strikeouts, deserved a better fate for her effort, but took the loss nonetheless.
The Bears got their run in the top of the second without getting a base hit. After Dre Blanar walked, Lindsay Bruno laid down a bunt. An errant throw to second allowed Blanar to advance to third, and eventually home when the ball skipped under the glove of the center fielder.
But the lead was short-lived, as the Blue Jays tied the score an inning later when Reilly was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.