FORT BRAGG — Kaley Rider struck out 12 and walked only one on Thursday as the Fort Bragg Timberwolves blanked the Lower Lake Trojans 5-0 in a North Central League I North softball game at Fort Bragg.
It was the league opener for Lower Lake (0-1), now 4-9 overall. Fort Bragg evened its league record at 1-1.
Rider and Lower Lake pitcher Kristen Garcia were locked up in a pitcher”s duel most of the game, but the Timberwolves scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning to open up a 4-0 lead. They added an insurance run in the sixth.
“She had real command of her pitches after a couple of rough outings,” Lower Lake coach Tim Sherrell said. “That was good to see. Now we need to wake up our bats.”
Lower Lake managed just three hits — a double by Darlena White and singles by Ashley Willard and Jessica Wilson. The Trojans” best scoring chance came in the top of the fifth when they put runners at second and third with only one out, but Rider worked out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Kendra Bradley went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for the Timberwolves.
Lower Lake is home Tuesday to play Kelseyville and away a week from today to take on Willits. Both games start at 4 p.m.
