Memorial Charges Past Tigers
ELKHART – The Warsaw at Elkhart Memorial softball game Monday appeared, on paper, to be an even matchup.
Both teams entered the Northern Lakes Conference contest at 2-4 in league play.
Both teams had defeated Goshen and Plymouth for their pair of NLC wins.
Both teams entered the game sporting three-game losing streaks to NLC foes.
Memorial made sure that the matchup on the diamond was not an even one in the end.
The host Crimson Chargers started strong and finished fast to top the Tigers 13-3 in five innings.
Memorial combined 14 hits, including four of the extra-base variety, with seven walks to win the final game of the first half of the league schedule.
Memorial improves to 6-12 overall and 3-4 in the NLC. Warsaw drops to 2-10 overall and 2-5 in league play.
The Chargers plated four runs in the first frame to take command. Junior Shakira Perez had an RBI triple and senior Gabby Warner an RBI single for the hosts, who also drew four walks in the opening inning.
Warsaw cut the lead in half with a pair in the second. Senior Taylor Stiver delivered an RBI single for the Tigers to make it 4-2. The top of the third inning proved to be the pivotal point of the game. Warsaw cut the deficit to 5-3 on an RBI single by senior Kaitlyn Williams, but senior Sidney Hernandez was thrown out at home trying to score from second on the play. The Tigers then stranded runners on second and third.
“That was a big moment in the game,” said Warsaw coach Kevin Dishman of the third inning. “We were being aggressive and I applaud that. Their girl just made a great play, a great throw to get Sid out at home.”
Memorial scored three runs in the third, getting RBI doubles from sophomore Kaylee Warner and Gabby Warner. The hosts added three more in the fourth, getting a key two-run single from sophomore RyLee Anderson. The Chargers completed the game on a two-run single by sophomore Desiree Uribe for the final two runs in the fifth.
“I thought we put the bat on the ball solid and had some good strokes tonight,” said Dishman, whose team was no-hit Friday in a 10-0 NLC loss at Concord. “We got caught being a little too aggressive at times, but the girls are trying so hard for it to all come together.
“I just want us to be competitive in the second half of the NLC season now and stay focused. We’re working at it. No one has given up on anything.”
Anderson, a sophomore, fired a six-hitter for the pitching win. She struck out three and walked three.
Stiver and Williams each had two singles to lead the Tigers. Hernandez had a double and junior Heather Cox a single.
Sophomore Abby Glass took the pitching loss for Warsaw.
Gabby Warner and Kim Lucas each had three hits to lead Memorial. Perez had a triple and a double for the winners.
Warsaw plays at Wawasee and Memorial travels to Plymouth for NLC games on Wednesday evening.