M. C. Eastern 6-21, Bear Lake 3-0
CUSTER - Mason County Eastern used the first game of Thursday's Western Michigan D League softball doubleheader against visting Bear Lake as a warm up, winning, 6-3.
"We didn't want to but we finally won the first won," said Eastern coach Bill Cole. "We won the second game, 21 to nothing."
In the opener, Kara Bryan pitched all six inings. The junior right-hander allowed three hits and two earned runs, striking out nine batters and walking nine. "Tight plate," Cole said of Bryan;s high walk count.
For Eastern, Jessica Budzynski had two hits and scored two runs, Bryan had two hits, one a double, and Niki Kolean doubled.
"Our pitch selection leaves a little something to be desired," Cole said of his impatient hitters. "In the second game, we were a lot more patient but we still only had four walks."
In the nightcap, Melanie Stickney pitched a no-hitter. She faced 10 batters in the three-inning contest, one over the minimum, striking out eight. Bear Lakes's lone base runner reached when she was hit by a pitch.
Offensively, the Cardinals were led by Kolean, Budzynski, Courtney Harris, Heather Salmon and Janelle Porter with two hits each. Budzynski scored three runs and one of Porter's hits was a double.
Also, Allie Kessel, Samantha Hutchings and Erica Knizacky each doubled.
Now 12-2 overall, Eastern is 7-1 in the league as it chases a 12th consecutive WMD championship
Reprinted with permission from The Ludington Daily News.