A four-run seventh inning helped the Oak Harbor High School softball team secure its first win of the season as the Wildcats drilled host Marysville Getchell 10-4 Tuesday, April 7.
The Wildcats led 6-1 going into the seventh inning, and the four additional runs helped withstand a three-run rally by the Chargers (0-5, 1-6) in the bottom half of the inning.
Three walks loaded the bases for Oak Harbor in the seventh, then Taylor Heidt drove in one run with a ground out. Alexa Findley followed with a two-run double, then Tricia Sarns lofted a sacrifice fly to plate the fourth run.
Until Findley’s double in the seventh, Oak Harbor methodically pushed runners around the bases with a mixture of singles, walks and errors, according to coach Todd Showalter.
“It was station-to-station the whole way,” he said.
Oak Harbor scored right out of the chute with an RBI single by Kelly Findley in the top of the first inning.
The Wildcats took advantage of Charger pitcher Katie King’s wildness in the third inning, scoring four runs with the help of three walks, two hit batters, several wild pitches and an RBI groundout.
In all, Oak Harbor received nine walks and three hit batters.
Kelly Findley led the offense with two hits. Heidt, Sydney White and Sam Payne all added singles.
Tricia Sarns had three RBI off a sacrifice and two ground outs. She also picked up the pitching win with a three-hitter, striking out eight, walking three and giving up three earned runs.
A strong defensive effort was led by nice catches in the outfield by Kelly Findley and Liz Adams that thwarted Charger rallies, Showalter said.
Shorewood (0-5, 2-5) visits Oak Harbor (1-4, 1-6) at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.