Staff photo / Neel Madhavan. The McDonald softball team swarms pitcher Aubrey Evans (5) in celebration after beating Ursuline 1-0 in 14 innings on Monday at YSU Softball Complex.

YOUNGSTOWN — After a marathon pitcher’s duel for the ages, McDonald’s Aubrey Evans stands alone.

She threw more than 250 pitches on Monday, outlasting Ursuline’s Emma Davies in an epic battle. Evans carried the Blue Devils for four hours in the circle, as she helped lead McDonald to a 1-0 victory over the Fighting Irish in a 14-inning thriller at the YSU Softball Complex.

“I’m definitely tired. It was a lot. I think that’s the most I’ve ever thrown in my entire life,” Evans said. “Usually softball games go seven innings. But this is just one of those circumstances you have to be ready for no matter what.

“It feels great [to win] though. I haven’t felt like this since we won districts last year. It’s crazy.”

Evans and the Blue Devils’ defense allowed just one hit against the Irish, as Evans finished with 29 strikeouts.

“That’s the best I’ve ever seen her throw. She did a great job,” McDonald coach Michelle Titus said. “She held her composure on the mound. I’m very, very proud of that kid. She did a fabulous job. … And our catcher did a great job behind the plate. All of our girls did a good job.”

Thirteen scoreless innings weren’t enough to decide things on Monday, so Ursuline and McDonald played 14 just for good measure.

Evans threw 234 pitches before her would-be no-hitter was broken up on a triple by Ursuline’s Ella Lewis in the bottom of the 13th inning. Despite facing the potential game-winning runner in scoring position with only one out on the board, the Blue Devils escaped unscathed.

“It’s one of those things that no one talks about because, if you talk about it, it might not happen,” Evans said of her broken up no-hitter. “But I was aware of it. I’m proud of myself for not getting a hit until one of the last innings.”

At long last though, McDonald finally broke though in the top of the 14th inning. After back-to-back hits from Marissa Colarich and Claire O’Leary to begin the inning, O’Leary advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice and third base after a force out at first.

“We were just trying to get one run on the board because I knew it was a pitcher’s duel,” Titus said. “Didn’t look like many girls were going to get many hits either way. I think we did get eight hits in the game, but it was just to get someone across the plate.”

O’Leary then scored on a passed ball from third base, with Sophia Pecchia at the plate, for what would be the game-winning run.

“If there’s a passed ball at all, you get a good jump every time and get across the plate,” Titus said. “She did, Claire O’Leary did. She did a great job.”

McDonald finished with eight hits off the combination of Davies and Alice Stroney. Stroney pitched the first three innings, while Davies pitched the final 11. Davies finished with 16 strikeouts, while Stroney had four.

“She was pitching amazing, and I think our defense also helped support her in amazing ways at times, too,” Ursuline coach Kristina Dugan said. “I couldn’t be more proud in terms of their pitching, especially Emma, and then in terms of their defense.”

For Ursuline, it wasn’t for lack of opportunities. Despite recording just one hit off Evans in 14 innings, the Irish still got runners on base.

The Irish left 11 runners on base throughout the game, as they couldn’t capitalize on eight walks and two hit-by-pitches from Evans.

“For whatever reason, we had a tough time hitting that ball — her rise ball, the ball that’s coming across the letters,” Dugan said. “To be truthful, I think it was inconsistently called, so it was tough to either stay off of it or swing at it. But I do think that our team did a good job of staying composed and trying to hit our pitch. We just have to hit the ball, bottom line.”