MESICK — At points it felt like the Mason County Eastern varsity softball team was going to take down Mesick on Monday.
However, the Cardinals couldn’t turn hits into runs and they ended up dropping both games to Mesick. They lost the first, 4-1 and the second, 16-5.
Game One
Mason County Eastern opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Bridget Whitaker singled to right field allowing Emma Whitaker to score.
The Cardinals held a 1-0 advantage until the bottom of the fifth inning. That’s when Mesick finally responded.
The Bulldogs tallied four runs in the frame to secure the 4-1 win.
Miley Kessel took the loss on the mound for Mason County Eastern. She pitched five innings, striking out eight and allowing three earned runs. She gave up three hits and four walks.
The Cardinals received offensive contributions from Kessel (1 walk), Emma Whitaker (1-for-3, 1 run, 1 walk), Bryanna Hasenbank (1-for-3), Bridget Whitaker (1-for-3, 1 RBI), Anna Story (1-for-3), Remington Smith (1-for-1, 2 walks, 1 stolen base), Alice Shoup (1-for-3) and Raegan Brynelsen (1-for-2).
Game Two
Mesick’s bats came to life in the top of the first inning, racking up five runs.
However, in the bottom of the frame, Mason County Eastern responded.
The Cardinals first run came after Hasenbank scored on a Bulldogs’ error. They trailed 5-1 after the first.
Mesick added two runs in the second, increasing its lead to 7-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, Kessel scored on a grounder from Bridget Whitaker.
Trailing 8-2, the Cardinals found their rhythm in the bottom of the fourth.
Hope Figgins opened the scoring by taking advantage of a Mesick error. Two batters later, Alice Shoup came in to score on a single from Kessel. She would score on an error in the next at-bat.
When the dust settled, Mason County Eastern trailed 8-5.
The Bulldogs scored eight runs between the fifth and sixth inning to secure the win.
Shoup took the loss on the mound for the Cardinals. She pitched five innings, striking out seven and allowing six earned runs. She gave up six hits and seven walks.
Kessel closed things out. She pitched an inning, striking out one and walking one.
Offensively, Mason County Eastern received contributions from Kessel (1-for-2, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 walk), Emma Whitaker (1-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 walk), Hasenbank (1 run, 1 walk), Bridget Whitaker (1-for-3, 1 RBI), Story (1-for-3), Figgins (1 run, 1 walk) and Shoup (1 run).
The Cardinals return to play on Thursday at home against Bear Lake.