MIDDLETOWN >> Lower Lake scored four times in the top of the seventh to forge a 9-9 tie, but the Middletown Mustangs needed only two batters to break that tie in the bottom half of the inning as they scored a 10-9 home victory on Tuesday afternoon that keeps them undefeated in North Central League I softball action.
Since starting the season with three straight lopsided losses, the Mustangs (3-0 league, 4-3 overall) have four in a row. Winning pitcher Savannah McLaughlin is 3-0 in three starts since joining the team, all of them league victories.
As big a win as it was for the Mustangs, who remain tied atop the league standings with Kelseyville (3-0) and Cloverdale (2-0) just a half-game back, it was a huge blow for the Trojans (1-2, 5-2).
“We hit the ball well, but we didn’t pitch very well or play defense,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said. “You usually have to do two of the three well to win a game.”
It was a game of shifting momentum. Middletown led 4-0 after three innings, but Lower Lake took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth when the host Mustangs erupted for five runs, including two-run triples by Jessica Zell and Gracie Armstrong, for a 9-5 lead.
Back came the Trojans with four runs in the seventh to tie it up, but a leadoff triple by Middletown’s Devin Clark (2-for-4) to right field to open the bottom of the seventh and a walk-off RBI single by Makaili Brown ended the game.
While several Mustangs contributed to the win, Emberson said Middletown’s Aly Ferguson was a disruptive force throughout the game. Ferguson went 1-for-1 with three walks and several stolen bases.
“Aly Ferguson killed us,” Emberson said. “She caused havoc at the top of the lineup, she’s their spark plug and an amazing player. She’s a first-team All-Leaguer.”
McLaughlin struck out two and walked two while losing pitcher Shelby Sapeta struggled from the outset and ended up striking out five and walking five.
“She was struggling with her command,” Emberson said.
Lower Lake pounded out 12 hits in defeat. Jackie Cooper went 3-for-4 with three RBIs while Kayla Sanderson went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI, and Adrianna Illia went 2-for-3 with a double. Kayla Doud (1-for-4) also drove in two runs.
Middletown hosts Cloverdale on Friday while Lower Lake is home to face St. Helena.
In other softball action Tuesday:
Clear Lake 9, St. Helena 8
At Lakeport, Emma Boatwright’s walk-off two-run double to center field capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and carried the Clear Lake Cardinals to a dramatic win over the St. Helena Saints, who had pushed in front 8-6 with four runs in the top of the inning.
Clear Lake (2-2, 5-2) carried a 6-4 lead into the top of the seventh when its defense deserted it, paving the way for four Saints runs.
“We could have hung our heads and lost it right there, but we came fighting back in the bottom of the inning,” Clear Lake coach Doug Wingler said.
Clear Lake sent four batters to the plate in the seventh and all of them came through with hits. Lilli Hill led off with a single, winning pitcher Shaelyn McIntire singled and Lila Ogden doubled home Hill to make it 8-7. Boatwright then doubled over the center fielder’s head as McIntire and Ogden raced home with the tying and winning runs.
“It was a big win for us,” Wingler said. “It was great to see the kids come back and make adjustments at the plate. That’s four big hits right in a row.”
Clear Lake spotted St. Helena a 3-0 lead before scoring four times in the bottom of the third. The Saints tied the game in the fourth but single runs by the Cardinals in the fifth and sixth gave them a 6-4 lead.
Regina Faalelea went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs for Clear Lake and teammate Sara Ogden went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Joy Ingalls went 2-for-3.
Clear Lake hosts Kelseyville on Friday.
