Upper Lake beats Middletown 8-7 in nine-inning battle
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MIDDLETOWN >> Upper Lake scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to snap a 6-6 tie and held on for an 8-7 victory over the Middletown Mustangs in North Central League I varsity softball action Tuesday afternoon in Middletown.
It was the first league win for the Cougars (1-3 league, 4-4 overall) as they snapped a three-game losing streak.
“That was an intense game every inning,” Upper Lake head coach Janice Klier said. “Our team worked beautifully together to keep this game tight the whole nine innings.”
“It was a close game with action in every inning,” Middletown head coach Bob Gunion said.
The game was tied 1-1, 3-3, 5-5 and 6-6 before the Cougars pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth to pull ahead to stay. Upper Lake tied the game 6-6 with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
“Defensively everyone contributed with very few errors,” Klier said. “And our batting practices finally paid off.”
Ashlyn Rhodes went 3-for-5 with a RBI and scored twice to power Upper Lake’s offense. Portia Klier (2-for-4), winning pitcher Aimee Schaefers (2-for-4, RBI) and Hope Marcks (2-for-5, double) also had multiple hits. Other Upper Lake hits went to Yadira Beecher (1-for-5, two RBIs) and Ava Witter (1-for-5, two RBIs).
Schaefers struck out 12 and walked seven while going the distance. Losing pitcher Taluelah Madrid also pitched a complete game, striking out nine and walking two while allowing only three earned runs.
“It was a strong pitching performance by Taluelah Madrid,” Gunion said.
Taylor Thompson went 2-for-5 with a ground-rule double that just missed being a home run, according to Gunion.
“She missed by about 5 feet,” Gunion said of Thompson’s home run miss.
Sarah Fetters went 2-for-4 for the Mustangs while Madrid (1-for-4) and Jaylee Doris (1-for-3) also knocked in runs. Brooklyn Wood and Allison Pina also had hits.
Middletown is now 2-4 in league play and 5-6 overall.
Both teams are home Friday. Upper Lake hosts league-leading St. Helena while Middletown takes on Clear Lake.
