The No. 11 Utica softball team is on its way to the District Finals after upsetting the No. 2 Cardington-Lincoln Pirates 10-1 on May 13, led by Hannah Shaver’s four RBI day.
The game was scoreless until the third inning when Utica’s Kiersten Hull hit an RBI double to center field to bring Lexi Wiegand around to score. They made it a two run lead in the top of the fourth when Shaver hit an RBI single to left. Celia Hill hit a sacrifice fly to, and then following a Wiegand single, Shaver stole home to put the Redskins up 4-0.
In the top of the fifth inning, Kaitlin Evans hit an RBI single to go up by five runs. Lauren Schmitt then hit a two-out double and was knocked home on a Shaver single. The Redskins made it 7-0 in the top of the sixth on an RBI double. Evans grounded into a fielder’s choice and Emily Meyers scored on an error to make it 8-0, and then Shaver hit a two-run single with two outs to go up by 10 runs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ariana Simpson hit a sacrifice fly for the only run of the day for Cardington-Lincoln.
Shaver went 3-for-4 to lead the 12 hit attack by the Redskins. She also stole two bases and scored twice in the win.
Hull went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI at the plate. She also got the win in the pitcher’s circle, going seven innings, allowing six hits and an earned run, while striking out two.
Wiegand and Lauren Schmitt both went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored apiece for the Redskins. Wiegand was a menace on the base paths with three steals, while Schmitt stole one bag. Emily Meyers was hit by a pitch twice, and went 1-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Celia Hill had a sacrifice fly in the win for Utica.
Myleigh Bishop led the offense for the Pirates, going 2-for-3. Simpson had an RBI in the game on the sacrifice fly.
Genevieve Longsdorf had a tough day in the circle, giving up 12 hits and two walks, with 10 runs and five of them earned, while striking out six batters over seven innings.
Utica took on No. 10 West Jefferson in the District Finals and fell 10-8, ending their season 11-11.
Evans homered and had three RBIs and a run scored in a 1-for-4 day. Wiegand was 2-for-3 with three runs and a walk. Meyers was 1-for-3 with a double and a run.
