Franzone, Marzillo help Bay Shore overpower Whitman

Nature called a 22-hour timeout on Tuesday, but it couldn't freeze the hitters.

Already leading by four when lightning caused a suspension in the top of the fourth, Bay Shore's offense exploded in yesterday's continuation, propelling it to an 11-2 win over host Whitman in Game 2 of the Suffolk Class AA finals.

The top-seeded Marauders (23-1) scored three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to force today's deciding third game at 4 p.m. at Bay Shore.

Cat Franzone went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Nicole Marzillo was 4-for-4 with three RBIs.

Liz Weber carried a perfect game into the fourth with two outs when Lauren Alexander poked an outside-corner pitch to right for a single.

In the fifth, Weber shifted to second base and Taylor McGowan took the circle. Two hits and two errors yielded two runs and No. 6 Whitman (17-6) pulled within 7-2, prompting coach Jim McGowan to reinsert Weber with one out in the frame. She pitched through the sixth and Taylor McGowan closed out the seventh.

"It wasn't a big deal," said Weber, who allowed the hit and struck out six. "Taylor and I have each other's backs."