OLIVEHURST — Freshman Renee Edwards pitched the Middletown High School softball team into the win column on Saturday with a complete-game victory over East Nicolaus in the final round of the Lindhurst Tournament.
Middletown beat East Nicolaus 8-5 after losing to Sutter 19-1 earlier in the day.
“After just getting smashed 19-1 and coming back against another good team, that shows me something,” Middletown coach Bob Cummesky said of his team”s first win of the season.
Edwards allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked four for the Mustangs, who went 1-3 in the season-opening tournament (they lost to Lindhurst and Dixon on Friday). Middletown staked its pitcher to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning and backed her with a 19-hit attack (all singles).
The Mustangs used a four-run top of the fourth, including a two-run single by Alana McSween, to add to a 4-3 lead. Alisha Bell (3-for-4, 2 RBI), Madi Hicks (3-for-4, RBI) and Roshell Dunlap (3-for-5, two runs) had three hits apiece for Middletown. McSween, Kristiana Outen and Jessica Eixenberger added two hits each.
“Everybody on that team got a hit just about,” Cummesky said.
Earlier in the day against Sutter, the Mustangs were simply overwhelmed by a superior ballclub.
“One of the top 10 teams I”ve faced in all my years of coaching,” Cummesky said. “They had three home runs, two triples and three doubles … all by different players. They”re just loaded. Everybody on the team hits the ball hard.”
While Middletown had only three hits – singles by Dunlap, McSween and Maria Castaldo – the Mustangs struck out only once.
“We put the ball in play, we just didn”t find the holes,” Cummesky said.
Losing pitcher Kaitlyn Swank worked all five innings, striking out five and walking two.
Middletown returns to action Wednesday at American Canyon at 3:30 p.m.
