Madison Gravel was in the middle of everything the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks did.

She had two hits, including a booming triple in the fourth inning that drove in two runs. She also scored twice in the Goldbacks’ 6-2 win over the Pine Bush Bushmen on Friday at Pine Bush Elementary School.

“I thought that hit felt really great,” Gravel said. “It was a high pitch, and I just went with it. A lot of us were in different positions today defensively, so I think we all showed up and (did well).”

The defense was changed up because Samantha Williams, the Goldbacks’ usual starting shortstop moved to the pitching circle, giving regular pitcher Alina Ferguson a rest. Ferguson went to right field and Ryan Keller went to shortstop.

That created a hole at second base, filled by Parker Mullarkey.

“We’re not used to it, but we played really well together today,” Gravel said.

Williams, meanwhile, gave up eight hits, but limited the Bushmen to single runs in the second and sixth innings. She walked two and struck out four.

“I have three really good pitchers, and Sam is someone who can pitch, play infield, and leads off the game for us,” Newburgh coach Edwin Quezada said.

“Just because she’s a sophomore doesn’t mean she’s not a leader for this team. She’s an absolute big-time player for us, and I’m just so proud of her.”

The Bushmen got on the board first. After Kendall Morris doubled off the center-field fence with two out in the second inning, Emma Zerbarini chased her home with an RBI single.

However, the Goldbacks got two back immediately.

Gravel singled to lead off the inning and then reached second base when Pine Bush shortstop Autumn Gove and second baseman Ava Boffalo botched a fielder’s choice, putting runners on first and second with nobody out.

Melissa Schulze singled Gravel home and Taryn Judson scored on Ferguson’s sacrifice fly. Even though Schulze was thrown out trying to reach third base on the out, Judson crossed the plate before the out was recorded, giving the Goldbacks a 2-1 lead.

“We always talked about just setting the tone,” Quezada said. “That’s what we say before every game. We’ve got to set the tone in the batter’s box and in the field. They do a very good job of just understanding what that means.”

It meant blowing the game open in the fourth inning. Williams singled home a run, setting up Gravel’s two-run triple. Schulze followed with her second RBI single of the game, giving the Goldbacks a 6-2 lead.

“(Adding on) gives Sam confidence as a pitcher,” Quezada said. “It gives the defense confidence and I always say, give us a little bit of cushion and pour on more, give me more. They just continue to respond to what I am asking of them.”

They finished the week on Saturday with a 10-4 win over the Middletown Middies.

The win over Middletown left the Goldbacks needing one more Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I win to qualify for the Section 9 Class AAA tournament.

“I think we’re solid,” Gravel said. “I think we have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs this year, and I’m super excited because I haven’t been to the playoffs in my varsity career.”