By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Lakeland Conference softball doubleheader between Brandywine and visiting Cassopolis was split up on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The first game was completed on Tuesday after just five innings, with the Bobcats winning 3-1.
The second game was rescheduled for Wednesday, and it was no easy battle.
At the end of the night, though, Brandywine (ranked No. 5 in Division III) claimed the 5-4 win after it was able to hold off a huge Ranger rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Bobcats took the early 2-0 lead after just one inning of play. Cassopolis (20-8 overall, 7-5 in the LAC) scored on run in the bottom of the third, but still trailed, 2-1.
Brandywine scored one run in the fourth and fifth innings each, keeping it ahead, 4-1.
Leah Kachur's single started the top of the seventh for the Bobcats. She was able to steal second on a passed ball, and eventually scored when Delania Schoeder singled. The run saved the day for the Bobcats, as the Rangers made a huge comeback in the bottom of the inning.
Cassopolis scored three unanswered runs in an attempt to claim the victory, but the Bobcat defense held off any chance of the Rangers scoring another run.
Pitcher Kendra Zache added two more wins to her record, bringing it to 18-5 on the season. Zache had a combined 18 strikeouts, one walk and allowed eight hits in the two games.
Symone Pompey suffered the loss for the Rangers.
Top hitters were Angela Newman, who had a home run and an RBI in the first game. Schroeder added a triple and an RBI for the Bobcats. Reva Ivens had a double for Cassopolis.
Brandywine will host Niles tonight at 4:30 p.m.