The Lucas softball team seemed to finally figure out a way to click on all cylinders as they played host to Hillsdale in a double header on Saturday afternoon. After taking game one 10-3, the Lady Cubs did not seem to be satisfied with that winning effort.
They proceeded to put up 11 runs in five innings while backing up freshmen pitcher Courtney Harris with some stellar defense on their way to zero errors.
Harris shut out the Hillsdale offense through the first four innings. In the fifth, she saw a poorly placed pitch get smacked over the left field fence. It did not seem to phase her as she battled back to hold them to just a single run in the inning. Harris did not over-power the Hillsdale hitters, tallying just three strike outs; but she was able to force many ground balls and easy pop ups that allowed her support to make easy plays.
As much as the defense was clicking, the offense was doing just as well. The Lady Cubs saw runners cross the plate in every inning but the second. They started the game off strong as freshmen lead off batter Alex Depue smashed a screaming liner between second and first. Freshmen Taylor Carper laid down a perfect bunt that allowed her to reach base safely and allow Depue to advance to third on the throw. Clean up hitter freshmen Anna Westfield grounded into a fielder’s choice that plated the first of three runs of the opening inning. She later scored on a passed ball.
The third inning saw a sequence of plays that isn’t often seen in softball. With runners on the corners, senior Morghann Sauder bolted from first. The Hillsdale catcher fired the ball into center field, which plated the runner on third and allowed Sauder to motor all the way around to score as well. Sauder took three bases on the play and seemed to take the wind out of Hillsdale and put them in a deeper hole. The Lady Cubs took an 8-1 advantage into the bottom of the fifth inning.
They plated three runs to complete the run rule victory and their second on the afternoon by a score of 11-1.
Autumn Wagner had a great day at the dish, although going just one for four, she was able to gather three RBI’s mostly on fielder’s choice plays that resulted in the runners being called safe. Sauder also pitched in with three RBI’s as well. Depue collected three hits while coming around to score twice, and Carper collected two hits.
The Lady Cubs were a force on the base paths as they were able to swipe 12 bags in the second game alone. It allowed them to score early and often, as they seemed to always have runners in scoring position. The Lady Cubs score 11 runs on nine hits and not committing a single error on defense.
In game one, junior Amanda Smollen earned the pitching win. She laced a single and stole a base in the second game.
The Lady Cubs will play host to Danville on Monday at 5 .m.
