BIG RAPIDS – Reed City’s softball team’s bats broke out early in the first game and late in the second game for a Central State Activities Association Gold Division sweep over Big Rapids on Friday.
The Coyotes scored four runs in the first inning of the opener en route to a 12-2 win, and after trailing 6-after five innings of the nightcap, they erupted for seven runs in the sixth on their way to a 10-6 victory.
“Our bats have been pretty alive lately,” Reed City coach Roger Steig said. “We’ve been able to get to most pitchers and have done a good job of being patient.”
Jules Griffin went the distance in Game 1 to earn the win, allowing two hits and striking out eight. She took over on the mound in the second inning of Game 2 after the Coyotes allowed six runs in the first. Griffin shut the door the rest of the way, allowing one hit and striking out six.
“She did a good job of setting them down,” Steig said. “She kept their hitters off balance.”
Olivia Lawson had three hits in the first game for the Coyotes (10-10, 5-3 CSAA), while Kamryn Myers had two hits.
In the second game, Myers had three hits, while Devin Willard had two hits.
Kailey Jones had two hits and two RBIs in the nightcap for the Cardinals (5-11, 3-5 CSAA), while Emma Graves had two hits and two runs scored. Alexis Lyman had a hit and RBI in the opener.
Big Rapids coach Dawn Thompson was pleased with her team’s play in the second game for the first five innings, before several mistakes helped exacerbate Reed City’s big inning.
“We committed three errors in the sixth inning,” Thompson said. “For five innings we played extremely well. Then we made some mistakes and they snowballed.”
