After Freedom won the Steel Division in EPC softball at the end of the regular season, Patriot pitcher Jen Slanovec tossed a 12-0 shutout against Stroudsburg in the conference quarterfinal last Thursday at Freedom.

“We’re coming into this really confident because I think with us finishing at the top of our division, it really gives us a big push for leagues and districts so it’s a really good win,” said Patriot outfielder Taylor Resetar, who had her first ever walk-off grand slam on Thursday.

“My hit, I mean, having a walk off grand slam, it’s really big. We had no outs so I was not expecting it,” she said.

Corrin Gill, Makenzie Smith, and Brenna Ortwein scored.

Juliana Presto also hit a home run in the same inning, scoring Madison Piripavel.

The Patriots got their offense going early when Smith and Ortwein singled in the first inning, Smith advanced to third base on an error, Ortwein stole second base, and Smith stole home to put Freedom up 1-0.

“We’re a different team than we were in the beginning of the season. We are at our strongest now with players in the right positions,” said Freedom coach Michele Laubach. “Our offense with our hitting tonight, I think this is the third time we’ve had walk-off hits this year, so our offense is one of our strongest, and we have a strong top to bottom order.”

Slanovec allowed only two hits and had eight strike outs.

“Jen’s doing a nice job on the mound and working hard, and just trying to work out her things keeping the ball low. Overall, she did well today,” Laubach said.

Slanovec, along with Smith, had two hits, and Resetar had five RBIs. The Patriots had 11 hits in total.

Freedom will have taken on Parkland in the EPC softball semifinal this Tuesday past Press deadlines, and weather-permitting. The EPC softball final is scheduled for Thursday.