LOWER LAKE — Mirella Valencia”s RBI single capped a three-run Lower Lake rally in the bottom of the seventh as the Trojans beat the Middletown Mustangs 5-4 in a North Central League I North softball game on Wednesday in Lower Lake.
“We tried to give it away earlier in the game, but clutch hitting there at the end saved us,” Lower Lake coach Tim Sherrell said.
Lower Lake (4-3 North, 7-12 overall) combined four singles with a walk to mount its final-inning comeback and avenge a 7-6 eight-inning loss earlier this season at Middletown.
Maria Copas and Katreena Galindo singled to open the Lower Lake seventh and Christine Powers drew a walk to load the bases. Isabell Azbill followed with a two-run single to center field to knot the score at 4 as Powers advanced to third base. Valencia followed with her game-winning hit, a hard shot up the middle.
Winning pitcher Kristen Garcia scattered five hits, struck out seven and walked two.
Tory Perez went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Middletown (1-5, 3-15), which led 4-1 at one point.
In other softball action Wednesday:
Upper Lake 7, Kelseyville 6
At Kelseyville, Upper Lake withstood a five-run Kelseyville seventh to beat the Knights in NCL I interlock action.
Upper Lake (10-6) is 5-0 against the NCL I North this season, having beaten each of the five North teams.
The Cougars scored six times in the top of the second inning to open up a 7-0 lead. Kelseyville (6-16) broke up the shutout with a run in the fifth and came back with five in its final at-bat, including a two-run double by Ashley Mueller (3-for-4, 3 RBIs).
Jessica Swaney went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs for the Cougars. Her two-run shot to left-center field in the second was her Lake County-leading fifth homer of the season.
The Knights had six of their 12 hits in the seventh inning.
“We just waited too long,” Kelseyville coach Greg Giusti said.
Katherine Edmonds worked six-plus innings for the victory and Swaney recorded the save. Jillian Allen took the loss despite striking out seven and walking none.
