LocalSportsJournal.com

WHITE CLOUD–Hart softball struggled to wake up the bats when they traveled to White Cloud on Wednesday, coming away on the wrong end of a series sweep, 12-5 and 13-10.

The first game saw the Pirates’ first three hitters get sat down in back-to-back innings. It wasn’t until the third inning that Hart was able to earn their first hit on a single from Makayla Rockwell. 

The Pirates were never able to capture a lead in that game, finding themselves in a 6-1 hole at the start of the fourth inning. 

In total, Hart only recorded five hits through six innings as the game ended with a final score of 12-5.

Gabby Quijas took the loss for Hart, pitching five innings and allowing nine hits and 12 runs while striking out one. Julia Bishop was the Pirates’ top hitter, notching two hits in three at-bats.

The nightcap went a lot smoother for Hart as they were able to stay patient at the plate and capitalize early on the Indians’ errors. The Pirates owned a 5-0 lead by the end of the top of the third.

Unfortunately for them, that would be their only lead of the game. 

With Kelsey Cophenhaver on the mound, White Cloud was able to get on the base paths to start the third, thanks to consecutive batters hit by pitches. That set up a big inning for the Indians that saw them plate eight runs on just three hits.

With an additional unanswered run added in the fourth for White Cloud, Hart attempted to climb back in with two runs in the fifth inning. A combination of fielding errors and timely hits for the Indians in the bottom of the fifth made that nearly impossible.

The Pirates were able to put three more runs on the board in the final inning, but ultimately came up short in the 13-10 loss.

Copenhaver took the loss in the pitching circle, allowing five hits and nine runs over 3 1/3 innings while striking out three. Quijas pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out two.

Nora Chickering, Gabby Schmieding and Julia Bishop were effective at the plate for Hart. All three notched two RBI in the second game.

The Pirates fell to 13-15-1 on the season and will turn their attention to hosting the district tournament Saturday where they’ll take on Shelby at 10 a.m.