Softball continues hot streak

The undefeated Mt. Hood softball team ran its win streak to 16 games  Tuesday, beating Lower Columbia Community College 11-6 and 4-3.

The Saints (16-0, 2-0) have dominated their competition this season but in this first match-up against a conference opponent, it looked different as the Saints were down in both games and had to come back for the victories. Sophomore Kristen Crawford earned the win in game one after coming in for sophomore Ann-Marie Guischer after she gave up six earned runs in two innings. At that point, the Saints were down 6-1, but then the runs started coming  for Mt. Hood.

Every batter in the line-up had a hit for Mt. Hood including freshmen Mercedes Green and Ashlee Mueller, who each had three hits during the game. The Saints had the bats swinging deep as they hit seven home runs, including two from Mueller, two from sophomore Teauna Hughes and one each from freshmen Kasidee Lemberger, Kelsey Reams and sophomore Laura Lesowske.

Mt. Hood scored once in the bottom of the third and then four times in the bottom of the fifth and eventually added five more runs in the bottom sixth, ending with an 11-6 victory over Lower Columbia (11-3, 0-2).

Head Coach Meadow McWhorter emphasized the team’s resilience. “We were down 6-1 in the second inning and battled back for the win.”

The second game was a lower-scoring affair and it was tight all the way to the end of the game. Mt. Hood scored first in the bottom of the first when Reams hit a solo home run. Lower Columbia scored in the second, third and fourth innings, making it 3-1 going into the fifth. After Reams would struck out swinging to lead off the inning, Hughes and Green homered back to back to tie the game at 3 apiece. Lemberger followed with a double , forcing the Red Devils to make a pitching change and two defensive substitutions. Mueller, who was red hot in the first game, struck out but then freshman Megan Reed would delivered an RBI single to score Lemberger from second and give the Saints the 4-3 lead. A flyball hit by sophomore Emma Bird ended the inning and the game finished early after only five innings due to darkness, giving the Saints the win.

During Spring Break, the Saints added six more wins, defeating Centralia College, Grays Harbor Community College, Bellevue College, Everett Community College, Green River Community College and South Puget Sound Community College at Delta Park on March 22-23. Through the 15 games played, the freshmen have played a huge role offensively. Lemberger leads the team in hits with 29 and has the highest batting average at .604. Reams leads the team in at-bats with 55. Hughes leads the team in home runs with eight but Green is close with six. Green and Reed also lead the team in RBIs with 24.

“I am proud of the poise our freshmen show.” McWhorter said. “Our sophomores have done an excellent job of leading by example. We need to continue to work on the little things: hitting the pitch where it is located, getting the bunt down, pitchers working and staying ahead, solid defense and most of all, playing our game. Working to get better each day.”

The team will host SW Oregon (17-5, 2-0) Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon. With Mt. Hood having the best record in the NWAACCs and the only undefeated team, McWhorter’s mindset is to stay humble by focusing on the next opponent.

“We play day by day, our wins are behind us and we focus on what’s important: our next opponent,” said McWhorter.“Control our preparation, our attitude and our effort. Play the game the way we have prepared and enjoy the moments we get out on the field, together.”