LocalSportsJournal.com
HART — Hart and Montague split a non-conference crossover baseball doubleheader at Hart on Thursday.
The Wildcats won the first game, 9-5, and the Pirates took the nightcap, 18-12.
Hart’s Gabby Schmieding had a rough first inning in the opener, but settled down nicely and finished her 4 2/3 innings in the circle and gave up six earned runs on five hits.
Nora Chickering came on to complete the game in relief.
The Pirates turned three double plays on defense, with shortstop Abby Hicks pulling off a solo twin killing for a highlight defensively.
Hart collected seven hits from seven different players, the highlight being a double by Copenhaver in the fourth inning.
Shaking off the first-game loss, the Pirates rebounded with a 15-hit attack in the nightcap. The Pirates had to overcome a bad third inning when they committed three errors. That opened the door for a seven-run explosion for the Wildcats.
Hicks paced the offense with three hits, including a home run, and four runs scored. Hailey Bond also had three hits for the Pirates and scored four runs. Julia Bishop contributed three hits, and Leah Walker beat out a pair of bunt singles.
Copenhaver picked up the win in the circle. She gave up just three earned runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out four.
The Pirates are scheduled to take the field Tuesday when they host North Muskegon in another conference doubleheader.
Montague is scheduled to play a West Michigan Conference Lakes Division twinbill at home Tuesday against Fremont.
