SHELBY – Shelby swept visiting Mason County Eastern, 13-3 and 15-6 in a non-conference girls softball doubleheader Friday afternoon.
Jayna Burmeister was dominant in the pitcher’s circle for the Tigers in Game 1, ringing up 12 strike outs while no-hitting the Cardinals over five innings.
The Tigers never looked back after putting up five runs in the bottom of the first with Hali Hayes ripping a two-run single, Stella Springer driving in another with a ground out and Elaina Davis drawing a bases loaded walk.
Jordan Wolting was the Tigers offensive leader, going 2-for-3 while Burmeister aided her own cause with three runs batted in.
Miley Kissel took the loss for the Cardinals, allowing seven earned runs on six hits with seven strike outs in 4 2/3 innings.
Bridget Whitaker collected one RBI, Hannah Kluth stole two bases for Mason County Eastern. The Cardinals turned one double play in the field.
In Game 2, it was Burmeister pacing the offense for the Tigers. Burmeister collected two hits and four RBI, including a three-run home run.
Shelby opened a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with Wolting hitting a two-run single and Springer driving in the other run with a ground out.
Eastern rallied for six runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-3 lead as Kaden Robinson led with a two-run single.
The Tigers tied the game at 6-all in the top of the third, and then scored two in the fourth and climbed back into the lead, 8-6.
Shelby added three more runs on three hits in the fifth inning, highlighted by Burmeister’s home run. Burmeister pitched 5 1/3 innings of relief for the Tigers and recorded 14 strikeouts and walked just two.
Wolting went 3-for-4 at bat to lead the Tigers’ 11-hit attack. Springer and Izzy Rudat also had multiple hits and Zarraga and Emma Stovall each stole multiple bases.
Kissel was again in the circle for the Cardinals and the righthander worked six innings, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits with one strike out and five walks.
Aubrey Myers, Remington Smith and Bryanna Hansenbank each finished with one hit and Myers drove in two runs.
Shelby begins West Michigan Conference Rivers Division play on Monday hosting North Muskegon.
Mason County Eastern hosts Brethren in its West Michigan Conference debut on Monday.
