SANTA ROSA — Middletown”s bats came alive to the tune of a season-best 13 hits but the Montgomery Vikings also hit the ball in their 10-5 non-league softball victory on Tuesday afternoon in Santa Rosa.
Montgomery (2-4) had four doubles, a triple and a two-run home by Amanda Cuccraro among its 10 hits.
“Montgomery hits,” Middletown coach Bob Cummesky said.
The Vik-ings had a 5-0 lead after three innings and took an 8-1 advantage into the sixth inning, but the Mustangs (0-3) rallied with six straight singles to score four times and close to 8-5.
“It was fun to watch,” Cummesky said of Middletown”s sixth-inning rally. “We made a great step forward today and I”m really proud of the girls.”
Middletown starter Kaitlyn Swank struggled with her control at times and ended up walking five batters.
“Most of those scored,” Cummesky said. “If we can eliminate some of those walks, I think we”re going to be fine.”
Swank pitched the first two innings, reliever Victoria Alessandra worked the third, fourth and fifth, and Swank pitched the sixth.
Hannah Boxerman went the distance for Montgomery, striking out three and walking three. She also received a big lift from her defense in the top of the third when the Mustangs, trailing 3-0, loaded the bases with one out. Erica Kirby hit a hard liner into left field that was run down by the Montgomery outfielder.
“It was a nice catch but it could have been a bases-emptying triple,” Cummesky said.
The slap hitters at the top of Middletown”s batting order, Roshell Dunlap and Maria Castaldo, combined to go for 5-for-7 and set the table for the Mustangs, according to Cummesky. Dunlap finished 3-for-4 with a RBI and Castaldo (2-for-3) also drove in a run.
Also for Middletown, Jordan Flynn went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Cheyanne Horvath and Madi Hicks each went 2-for-4.
Middletown is scheduled to play at Tomales on Thursday, but rain is in the forecast. The team”s next game after that is Tuesday at Upper Lake.
