Grace Bates drove in four runs, including a grand slam in the second inning, to help lead the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets to a 16-0 shutout over Northridge on Wednesday.
Bates finished 2-for-3 at the plate, fueling an eight-run second inning that put the game firmly in Mt. Vernon’s control. Her grand slam to center field capped a scoring surge that also featured RBI hits from Gabby Beck and Carly Kennedy.
Mt. Vernon (6-1) totaled seven hits in the win, with Kennedy, Bates, and Keely Pollard each collecting two. The Yellow Jackets capitalized on 15 walks issued by Northridge pitchers, with Layla Joyner, Addison Davis, and Mea Joyner drawing two free passes each.
Pollard drove in four runs and scored twice, while Kennedy added two RBIs and two stolen bases. The offense also benefited from aggressive baserunning and situational hitting, with seven different players recording RBIs.
Pitching and defense were equally sharp for Mt. Vernon. Starter Miranda Oswalt earned the win, throwing three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and two hits allowed. Beck and Pollard closed the game out, preserving the shutout without allowing a hit.
Defensively, the Lady Jackets were flawless in the field, committing no errors. Catcher Hailey Rudrick led the team with 11 defensive chances.
Northridge managed just two hits — singles by Goodwin and Vanfossen — and left several runners stranded.
