Oak Harbor saw a little too much from Cascade’s Samantha Munger in the Wildcats 8-1 home fastpitch loss to the Bruins Tuesday, March 23.

Munger pitched a no-hitter, striking out eight, and went four-for-four with three runs scored. Oak Harbor managed only one hard hit ball off Munger, Morgan Young’s line out to second to end the game. The Wildcats didn’t get a ball out of the infield and had only two balls put into play to the left of second base. Munger retired 15 straight after opening the game with a walk to Aria Araceley.

The game was the conference opener for both teams. Oak Harbor is 1-3 for the season; the Bruins are a perfect 4-0.

Although Emily Hunt gave up eight runs on eight hits for Oak Harbor, she pitched a solid game. Cascade jumped out in front with two runs in the first and four in the second, but only two of those six were earned.

At one point she retired 14 of 16 Cascade hitters until she was hit by a bit of bad luck in the Bruins’ two-run sixth. After retiring the first two hitters, the Bruins got a runner aboard on an infield hit in spite of a fine defensive play by second baseman Abigail Rankin. The runner barely beat the throw; had she been out the inning would have been over. With the inning still alive, Cascade pushed across two runs with a walk and two-run single.

Oak Harbor picked up its only run off Munger in the seventh. Emily Meagher walked, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Hannah Dolph walked. When Dolph feigned a steal of second, Cascade catch Taylor Pilkenton threw the ball into centerfield, allowing Meagher to score.

Oak Harbor coach Jessica Weikle said, “I felt that, despite the lack of hits, we were competitive. We made some good plays in the field: Morgan Young, Whitney Osborn and Marissa Fakkema all had a great day defensively. Emily Hunt and (catcher) Shawna Steele worked very well together and Emily did throw a great game; she never got rattled and was complimented by the opposing team’s coach.

“Emily Meagher showed leadership and proved that we were in it until the very end when she manufactured our only run.”

The Wildcats go to Snohomish Thursday, March 25, and Monroe Monday, March 29, before returning home against Stanwood Wednesday, April 7, at 4 p.m.