Maidens face Hamilton ace, lose by one

HAMILTON – Ronan hung tough, but couldn’t string together enough hits to keep pace with Hamilton and their talented and newly acquired pitcher Brie Clifford, as the Maidens fell 3-2.  

The Maidens only managed five hits and one walk against Clifford, who transferred to Hamilton from Class AA Missoula Big Sky last summer. The Broncs did commit four errors, but the Maidens couldn’t capitalize and were held scoreless in six of the seven innings.  

Ronan’s Ashleigh Lynch went 2-for-4 and McKenzie Dulmes and Samantha Coleman had an RBI each. The Maidens scored their lone runs in the third, right after a two-run second inning by the Broncs, cutting the Hamilton lead to 3-2. But Clifford wouldn’t surrender any more runs the rest of the game, as she went the distance striking out 11 Maidens on her way to the win.

The Maidens’ pitcher Coleman was strong in the circle, only giving up three runs, but was tagged with the loss. The Maidens will look to bounce back from the tough loss when they travel to Thompson Falls on Thursday to take on the Bluehawks.      

Ronan             002   000   0    –   2  5  1

Hamilton        120   000   x    –   3  4  4

W – Clifford.  L – Coleman.

   RONAN – Ashleigh Lynch 2-4, Samantha Colman 1-3, Kaityn Sassaman 0-3, McKenzie Dulmes 0-2, Kendra Starkel 0-3, Madison Barber 0-3, Danielle Richwine 0-2, Jordyn Clairmont 1-3, Courtney Taylor 1-3, Alana Madison 0-1.  

   HAMILTON – Taylor Goligoski 2-3, McKayl Rothie 0-2, Brie Clifford 0-2, Tayler Renolds 1-3, Shaylan Mohn 1-3, Sabrina Friday 0-2, Kiley Newton 0-1, Katie Wickham 0-2, Kaytlyn Menk 0-2.  

   2B – Goligoski 2, Mohn, Coleman.  RBI – Goligoski 2, Clifford, Coleman, Dulmes.