Softball Takes Two Games from Alpena, Clinches First Postseason Appearance in Program History
Softball took the trip to Alpena to take on the Lumberjacks in a five game conference series matchup with their postseason destiny remaining to be determined.
Game one was a pitchers duel. The Lakers won a tight 2-0 game with the lone two runs coming from a two run homerun off the bat of Angelina Lanham. Heidi Nagel threw all 7 innings allowing just 2 hits while striking out 9 batters along the way.
Game two was another tight game, and was decided in the late innings. The Lumberjacks took game two with a score of 2-1. The Lakers allowed 2 runs to score in the bottom of the sixth inning to fall behind for the first time in the game. Maggie Wallace had a pair of hits in the game and scored the lone run. Shelby Bundy threw all 6 innings allowing just 4 hits and 2 earned runs.
Game three the bats woke up, and the Lakers scored 12 runs on 16 hits. Mackenzie Hoogerhyde had a 3 hit game. Olyviah Hanson, Maggie Wallace, Mackenzie Lane, Ella Clauss and Janelle Yarnell each had 2 hits. Yarnell had two doubles. Nagel again toed the rubber, throwing all 6 innings allowing just 3 hits while striking out 9.
Game four was another tight game. The Lakers scattered 6 hits while plating 5 runs in a 6-5 loss. Yarnell hit a solo homerun and Hoogerhyde doubled, while Lanham, Lane, Yarnell, and Bundy each drove in a run.
Game five the Lakers out hit the Lumberjacks 6 to 3, but it was the Lumberjacks outscoring the Lakers 2-1 to cap off the series. It was again in the sixth inning Alpena tacked on two runs to take their first lead of the game. Nagel threw all 6 innings allowing 3 hits and 2 runs to score. Bundy drove in the lone Laker run.
With the two wins in the series, the Lady Laker Softball team continued their program best campaign. They not only captured their first ever 20-win season, but they clinched a spot in the NJCAA Region XII Postseason Tournament, where they'll play for a chance to qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament.