Hitting was contagious for both teams Thursday in game two of a softball doubleheader between second-ranked (Division III) Buchanan and fifth-ranked (Division) Edwardsburg. The Bucks eventually won the slugfest, 14-11. The Eddies won the opener, 10-5.

“Offense is the strength of our team,” said Edwardsburg softball coach Randy Brooks.

The two teams combined for 29 hits and seven extra base hits in the second game with both teams erasing big deficits.

Trailing 11-7, Buchanan scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning. Chelsey Bennett collected a two-run single, Sammi Luzadre had an RBI double and Nikki Mucha added an RBI single for the Bucks in the seventh.

“We knew Buchanan was a good hitting team,” Brooks said. “When we threw good pitches we got them out and we didn’t, they hit the ball pretty hard.

“Overall, that’s not the way you want to go into the postseason. We’ve got some work to do.”

Edwardsburg had the momentum for awhile after scoring five runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-7 lead. McKenzie Creed hit a two-run homer and Michaela Ritschard and Kaylee Ryker each added an RBI single in the fifth for the Eddies.

The lead grew to 11-7 in the sixth as Edwardsburg scored three more runs. Creed hit an RBI double and Layne Stinnett added an RBI single in the inning.

Chelsey Bennett hit a two-run homer in a five-run fourth inning for Buchanan. Teammate Jade Mosier had a two-run homer in the second inning.

“This team doesn’t quit,” said Buchanan softball coach Mike Welsh. “I said at the beginning of the year that I thought it was going to be a special year for this team. They keep proving that all the time.”

In the opener, Edwardsburg jumped out to an 8-1 lead after two innings. Ryker’s two-run double highlighted a six-run first inning for the Eddies. Creed and Ritschard each added an RBI single.

Stinnett hit a two-run single in the second inning for Edwardsburg.

Buchanan scored four runs in the fifth to pull within 10-5. Ali Kyles drove in two runs with a single.

 

EDWARDSBURG 10-11, BUCHANAN 5-14

At Edwardsburg

First Game

Buchanan                   100     040     0 – 5 7 1

Edwardsburg            621     100     x – 10 12 1

Maddie Hemphill (L) and Nikki Mucha; Delaney Peters (W), Ali Strycker (5) and Layne Stinnett

2B: Jade Mosier (B), Jayla Bibbs (B), Kaylee Ryker (E), McKenzie Creed (E).

3B: Morgan Richer (B)
Second Game

Buchanan                   020     500     7 – 14 13 3

Edwardsburg            201     053     0 – 11 16 3

Sammi Luzadre (W) and Nikki Mucha; Ali Strycker, Hannah Shoupe (4), Delaney Peters (7-L), Strycker (7) and Layne Stinnett

2B: Luzadre (B), Savannah Dixon (E), Creed (E)

HR: Jade Mosier (B), Chelsey Bennett (B), McKenzie Creed 2 (E)

Varsity records: Buchanan 24-5, Edwardsburg 28-7