UPPER LAKE >> St. Vincent struck for eight runs in the first three innings, but Upper Lake pitcher Julia Mooney shut out the Mustangs the rest of the way in the Cougars’ 8-1 North Central League II softball loss on Thursday afternoon in Upper Lake.
“They came out really hitting the ball,” Upper Lake coach Nick Williamson said of the Mustangs.
Mooney, who struck out three and walked one in going the distance for the Cougars (0-1 league, 1-7 overall), buckled down beginning in the fourth inning with help from a defense that ended up turning four double plays.
“That definitely helped,” Williamson said. “We made a lot of heads-up plays. We’ve definitely improved on that aspect on defense.”
The Cougars scored their only run in the bottom of the fifth on a passed ball. Although they finished with nine hits, they struggled at the plate with runners in scoring position.
“We made a lot of contact, it’s just getting solid hits that get people around the bases,” Williamson said. “We need to do a better job with that.”
Mallory Henry, Katlyn Minnis and Cheyanne Obedoza each had a single and a double for Upper Lake.
The Cougars are off until April 20 when they play Credo in a league game at Rohnert Park.
