Erin Glavin scores the go-ahead run for Buchanan against Edwardsburg in the opening game on Tuesday. The Bucks defeated the Eddies 8-6 and 10-3. (Daily Star Photo/TOM NYHUIS)

By TOM NYHUIS
Niles Daily Star

BUCHANAN – Buchanan’s varsity softball picked up a sweep over visiting Edwardsburg Tuesday afternoon in Lakeland Conference action.

For the Lady Bucks it took an 8-6 comeback for a thrilling opening game win and broke open a close second game in the fifth with a seven run outburst for a 10-3 victory.

Things looked pretty bleak for the Lady Bucks in Tuesday’s opener. Edwardsburg jumped out to a 6-0 heading into the bottom of the third. The Eddies were able to score the six runs on four hits and seven Buchanan errors, five of those in the Eddies five-run third.

“I told them (the team) that they couldn’t continue to play like that and they were going to need to start hitting the ball,” Buchanan coach Mike Welsh said. “Those kid’s didn’t quit. Give them credit they found a way to win and it just carried over to the second game. I’ve been coaching a long time and these kids really gutted it out today.”

In the bottom half of the third Rachel Briggs came through with a big two out double with the bags loaded to cut the Eddies lead in half.

Two innings later Buchanan knotted the score at six with the help of Lady Bucks’ third baseman Devinn Adams. Adams laced a 2-run scoring triple in the fifth and in the sixth added a run scoring double for the go ahead run as Erin Glavin crossed the plate for what proved to be the game winning run. The Bucks added an insurance run in the sixth to secure the big comeback win.

“Devinn just had a big day today. She has been up and down, hot and cold for us and tonight she had some huge hits for us. It was a total team effort and Alexis threw really well. Edwardsburg is one of the best hitting teams I’ve seen, those kids are tough,” Welsh said.

Buchanan’s ace, Alexis Lenox, in the circle holding the Eddies in check the final four innings as her defense shored up their play to hold the Eddies scoreless in the final four innings. Lenox finished the game striking out nine in seven innings of work.

Edwardsburg picked up six hits off of Lenox and coaxed four walks.

Ashley Tackett allowed nine hits while walking three and striking out two. Tackett also ripped a double as did her catcher Debra Burton.

“We had our chances. We didn’t make the plays and they (Buchanan) did,” Edwardsburg coach Randy Brooks said following the setback. “They have a nice team and we have a pretty good team and we’ll find out. We think we’re pretty good and in spots we looked good today and in spots they made us not look so good. It was force thing versus we just fell apart. Good teams will do that to you.”

In the nightcap, the Eddies again jumped out to an early 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third. Buchanan collected four hits and scored three runs to take over the lead.
In the fifth Edwardsburg took the lead again scoring a single run in the top half of the fifth. The damage could have been more but a strike out, throw out on a steal attempt knocked the wind out of the Eddies’ sails leaving the base paths empty with two outs.
“That was a big play when their catcher threw us out. I don’t know how many bases we stole tonight but when she threw us out there it took us out of the inning. That’s a big play their catcher Rachel Downs,” Brooks said. “That’s a huge play there.”

But the lead was short lived as the Lady Bucks came charging back pushing seven runs across the plate on four hits aided by the issue of four walks by pitcher Ashley Wegner and reliever Andrea LaPlace.

Buchanan finished the game with 12 hits as five-hitter had multi-hits led by Adams and Lenox each with three singles. Brianna Turnock, Jayla Carrigan and Jacklynn Leiter also added two singles apiece.

Lenox finished the game with eight strikeouts while giving up seven hits and walking six.

First game
Edwardsburg 015 000 0 – 6 6 0
Buchanan 003 032 x – 8 9 7
WP – Alexis Lenox and Rachel Downs
LP – Ashley Tackett and Debra Burton
2B – Devinn Adams (B), Alexis Lenox (B) Rachel Briggs (B), Ashley Tackett (E), Debra Burton (E)
3B- Adams (B)

Second game
Edwardsburg 101 010 – 3 7 1
Buchanan 003 07x – 10 12  2
WP- Lenox and Downs
LP- Ashley Wegner 4 2/3, Andrea LaPlace and Burton