Softball Results: April 27
GOSHEN 1, GRACE 0
GOSHEN 7, GRACE 7
Article by Kara Godsey
Grace’s softball team closed out the season with a loss and a tie against Goshen on Saturday at Coach Phil Dick Field.
The Lady Lancers (10-37-1, 6-29-1 Crossroads League) lost 1-0 in the first game and tied the second game 7-7 as the game was called due to rain after eight innings.
The first contest was a pitchers’ duel, as each pitcher threw a complete game two-hitter.
The Maple Leafs (18-32-1, 11-23-1 CL) scored the lone run in the first inning. The leadoff batter reached on a walk and was later brought home by a double to deep left field.
The Lady Lancers threatened early with back-to-back singles from Sam Heim and Erin Lawhon. But the two runners were left stranded as the Maple Leafs retired the next three batters in order.
Both pitchers settled in after the first inning. Lawhon allowed just one hit and a walk over the next six innings. Goshen stifled Grace’s offense, refusing to let Grace reach base after the first inning.
The Lady Lancers played a clean game defensively, committing no errors. Grace’s defensive effort was highlighted by a smooth double play turned by Olivia Scarbrough and Bethany Gardner.
Lawhon threw a complete game with four strikeouts, surrendering just two hits and one run.
The second game started early in an effort to dodge the rain. The Lady Lancers battled through hail and steady rain, tying the game before the weather got the last word.
Despite the conditions, the Lady Lancer hitters found their rhythm in game two to the tune of 15 hits.
Grace scored first, pushing across a run in the bottom of the second inning. Scarbrough ripped a double to deep center field. Hannah Harless then launched a double off the left field wall to plate Scarbrough and take a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, the Maple Leafs strung together three straight hits, culminating in an RBI double to take the lead 2-1.
Grace responded with four hits to plate three runs. Lawhon singled, and Britney Young doubled to set the table. Taking advantage of a passed ball, Lawhon raced home to tie the game at two.
Jessica Kaurich walked, and Morgan Tapscott singled to load the bases for the Lady Lancers. Scarbrough then roped an RBI single to left, and Harless followed with a sacrifice fly to seize a two-run lead.
Goshen reclaimed the lead over the next two innings. But the Lady Lancers’ bats came back to life in the bottom of the sixth.
Heim and Young each singled to lead off the inning. Kaurich roped a double to bring Heim home, and Scarbrough cleared the bases with a clutch two-out triple to tie the game at 7-7.
After a scoreless seventh inning on both sides, the game went to extra innings. Neither team could muster up a run in the eighth, and the game was called due to rain before the ninth inning.
Eight different Lady Lancers tallied a hit in game two. Scarbrough hit 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Heim went 3 for 5 with two stolen bases and a run scored. Harless was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Young and Kaurich had two hits apiece.
Hannah Middlebrooks tossed the first six innings, and Dori Knight pitched the final two.
With the game ending in a tie, the Lancers snap a seven-game losing streak. This marks the final game in the careers of graduating seniors Michaela Lee, Emily Bobb, and Heim.
HUNTINGTON NORTH 10, WARSAW 7
HUNTINGTON NORTH 12, WARSAW 0
Late heroics in game one and a steady diet of offense in game two put the Vikings over on the Tigers in the doubleheader sweep Saturday morning.
Erika Vinson broke a seven-all tie in the firth inning of game one, pushing the Vikes ahead to stay. Laney Shaw had three hits for North, driving in three while Vinson and Kodi Douglass each drove in a pair.
Katie Anderson, Avery Sleeth and Hudson Bolinger all had RBIs for the Tigers, which managed just four hits but amassed eight walks.
Shaw outdueled Kennedy Tennant in the circle, Shaw fanning 12 in the win.
Game two was all North as the hosts posted four runs in the first and never looked back.
Sophie Eckert homered and drove in three while Megan Stephen had three hits and four RBIs.
Sydney Selvage allowed just two hits in the five-inning shutout for North, striking out seven. Courtney Chookie wound up with the loss, allowing six earned in two innings.
Warsaw (4-10) plays again Monday at Memorial.
EAST NOBLE 18, WAWASEE 8
Carly Turner had a game to remember for East Noble.
Turner homered among a five-hit, six-RBI day that also had her score four runs. The Knights were plenty busy on the bases, collecting 24 hits. Halle Beiswanger had four hits and drove in five, and Lauren Lash added four hits and an RBI.
Grace Erwin, Dani Jacquay, Rylee Cripe and Maliah Hampshire all scored three runs for East Noble.
Stats for Wawasee were not provided.
East Noble also commanded the JV game in a 17-4 final.
Wawasee (8-7) meets Concord Monday afternoon.
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 15, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 11
Valley made a game of it, but a huge early deficit doomed the hosts Saturday morning.
Concordia opened the game with a 10-0 lead after three innings, but Valley fought back to get within two at 11-9 after a five-run fifth, only for the Cadets to plate three in the sixth and one more in the seventh. Valley would get two back in the seventh before running out of outs.
Kirstyn Yoder and Alex Gomez each had three hits and a pair of RBIs for Valley. Sydney Howard added two hits and a pair of runs scored.
The day was designed to be a four-team tournament, with Whitko and Northwestern playing in game two. That game was washed out with Northwestern leading 12-9. The tournament was halted at that point, and an announcement on its continuation was not immediately made.
Valley (3-9) hosts Manchester Monday in Three Rivers Conference play.