Softball: MAC downs Plains, again

Lady Bulldogs defeat conference foe in another defensive

battle

PLAINS - When you're in a pitchers duel, it's good to have the Lady Bulldogs' Kyla Olson out on the mound.

Mission-Arlee-Charlo had defeated Plains 4-3 to start the season and they defeated the same team again last Friday by the same score in cold, miserable conditions.

"My girls played a great game defensively and stayed with it and got the win,' head coach Susan Weaselhead said.

The Lady Bulldogs defense was anchored by some great catches by right-fielder Jessica Foust and catcher Alyssa Doty was even to tag a runner out at home. The game was scoreless with Olson and Plains pitcher Aspen Rude battling like two heavyweights out in the circle.

Olson stuck out nine and walked only one as she picked up her eighth victory of the season.

Rude struck out seven as MAC left ninerunners on base.

"Aspen did a pretty good job, she gave us things we couldn't hit," Weaselhead said. "Adjusting to that was difficult."

Adjust they did as the Lady Bulldogs scored four runs in the final three innings behind RBIs by Kinley Pope and Serena Long.

Pope finished the game, 1-for-3 with a double. MAC did have to gut it out, after gaining the 3-0 lead, Plains came back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. After MAC score a very important insurance run, the Trotters could answer with just one run in bottom of the seventh.

Pope is now hitting .439 on the season with an eye-popping on-base plus slugging percentage (average bases produced by a batter in an at-bat) of over 1.134. She also has five doubles and three triples to go with 21 RBIs to lead the team.

The Lady Bulldogs continued their impressive season, improving to 8-2.

"I think it's definitely a motivator for them," Weaselhead said of the Lady Bulldogs' record. "They're really getting together as a team."

MISSION 4, PLAINS 3

M - 000 - 012 - 1 - 4

P - 000 - 002 - 1 - 3

Plains - 6 hits, 5 errors. Mission - 4 hits, 3 errors

Lady Bulldogs batting - Siraha Camacho 1-4, Loren Erickson 1-4, Kinley Pope 1-3, Janeal McDonald 0-2, Olson 0-1, Sara Nerby 0-4, Doty 0-4, Serena Long 1-2, Mahalia Hendren 0-1, Jessica Foust 0-2, Emily Gillingham 0-1.

Doubles - Camacho, Pope RBIs - Pope

LB Pitching - Olson gets win (8-2), 9K