MIDDLETOWN — Shortstop D.J. Garcia blasted a three-run triple in the top of the sixth inning to break the game open and winning pitcher Shawna Hettrich struck out 15 as the St. Vincent Mustangs beat the Middletown Mustangs 9-3 in a North Central League I interlock softball game on Friday in Middletown.
Hettrick allowed seven hits and didn”t walk a batter. Losing pitcher Jen Emberson also went the distance, striking out seven and walking five.
“She threw her changeup really well,” Middletown coach Lisa Rogers said of her sophomore pitcher. “I think she”s getting stronger every game.”
St. Vincent scored four times in the top of the first inning and added two more runs in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. Middletown closed to 6-1 with a run in the bottom of the fourth. After Garcia”s bases-loaded triple made it 9-1, Middletown picked up single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Jessica Boylan went 2-for-3 for Middletown (0-4). Julia Leathers and Kayla Welton each had a hit and a RBI.
Garcia also had a double for St. Vincent, a prime contender along with Clear Lake for the NCL I South title this season.
Middletown travels to Geyserville on Wednesday.
