LAKEPORT — It ended a lot better than it started for the Clear Lake Cardinals in a 13-3 five-inning North Central League I South softball victory over the St. Helena Saints on Tuesday afternoon in Lakeport.
St. Helena (0-5) loaded the bases with no outs to start the game and went on to score two runs for a 2-0 lead.
“We were just sloppy,” Clear Lake coach Gary Pickle said. “We can”t start slow like that on Thursday.”
The Cardinals (5-0 South, 16-4 overall) host Cloverdale (4-0) on Thursday in Lakeport, the first of two meetings between the two NCL I South powerhouses.
Rylie Gabehart”s three-run double during a five-run second inning kick-started the Cardinals” offense. St. Helena got one of those runs back in the top of the third to make it 5-3, but Clear Lake countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 9-3.
Winning pitcher Emily Wingler went the distance, allowing two hits, striking out seven and walking two. Gabehart (1-for-3) finished with four RBIs and Corinne McKinney went 3-for-3 with a double and a RBI. Katie Reynolds and Heather White added two hits apiece.
Clear Lake has won eight consecutive games.
