MAC bats heat up
Junior pitcher Kyla Olson sits on a pitch during MAC's game against Drummond last Thursday.
ST. IGNATIUS - Last week, the Mission-Arlee-Charlo softball team's success depended on its performance at the plate during a span of three games in four days.
Last Tuesday against Thompson Falls, the Bulldogs couldn't get the hits going.
"[Thompson Falls] was up 2-0 and our bats were cold," assistant coach Terri Biggs said of the 4-2 loss.
The Bluehawks pitcher took out the first six batters in the first two innings before MAC got into a rhythm against her and figured her out to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but it was "too little too late," Biggs said.
Senior Katie McDonald and Janeal McDonald each earned the RBIs for the Bulldogs.
Junior Kyla Olson struck out eight with only two walks during her time on the mound.
In the field, MAC committed five errors.
"That's a lot of errors against Thompson Falls," Biggs said. "We're quite capable of beating them. We need to get our bats going earlier."
Two days later, the Bulldogs didn't have the same problems at the plate.
Against Drummond, the Bulldogs allowed only two hits in the 17-1 rout.
Senior Bella Dally and sophomore Kinley Pope started the fourth inning out with doubles and Katie McDonald followed with a triple to begin a 12-run fourth inning.
"We were able to hit and score runs," Biggs said. "We had a lot of extra base hits."
Pope went 2-for-3 and Katie McDonald went 2-for-4 while Janeal McDonald led with four RBIs.
Olson struck out five and only walked one batter for the win.
MAC kept the momentum going the next day with an 11-0 win over Eureka. Olson shut down the Lions with eight strikeouts and allowing one hit.
"She's been really solid for us," Biggs said. "She must have an average of eight or nine strikeouts per game. She's allowing an average of under two walk a game. She's getting better every time."
Olson also contributed to the win by going 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles.
Katie McDonald went 3-for-3 and two RBIs. Dally added a home run in the bottom of the first inning.
MAC faced Florence on Tuesday night. Scores were unavailable at press time.
The Bulldogs host Troy tonight before going to Loyola on Saturday.
Troy beat MAC last year but have been beat by some good teams so far this season, Biggs said.
"You can never count them out," she said.
As for Loyola, Biggs said the Bulldogs have to get over the mental aspect of the game.
"They psych us out more than they beat us," she said