ROHNERT PARK — Credo High School ace Maya Weigel-Murphy had things pretty much her own way in two previous starts against the Upper Lake High School softball team this season, but not on Friday.
The Cougars banged out 13 hits — nine more than they had in their first two games against Credo combined — while upending the Rohnert Park team 10-8 on its home field, scoring four in the top of the seventh to erase a 8-6 deficit.
“They came out to play today,” Upper Lake head coach Nick Williamson said as the Cougars improved to 4-3 on the season.
Upper Lake had the top of its order leading off in the seventh and the Cougars rallied against Weigel-Murphy, who was the winning pitcher in earlier 2-1 and 7-0 victories over the Cougars. Williamson said key hits by Lexi Wurm (3-for-4, 4 RBIs) and Zoey Petrie (3×4, double, triple, RBI) helped push Upper Lake in front to stay.
Wurm, working in relief of starting pitcher Karlee Zimmerschied, faced four batters in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory.
“I don’t think I’ve been that nervous before,” Williamson said as the Cougars recorded the final three outs of the game.
Credo scored the game’s first run but Upper Lake had a 5-1 lead going to the bottom of the fourth when the Gryphon scored twice to make it 5-3. Credo pushed ahead 6-5 with a three-run fifth before Upper Lake tied it with a run in the top of the sixth. The Gryphon took its final lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
“They’ve got the ability, they just needed the confidence,” Williamson said of the Cougars’ breaking through in their third meeting with Credo. “It was nice to see them embrace that ability. The whole atmosphere on the team today was different.”
Hailey Reams went 2-for-4 with a RBI for Upper Lake.
Zimmerschied worked into the fifth inning before Wurm relieved. She struck out none and walked one in 2 2/3 innings to register the victory.
Weigel-Murphy struck out 10 and walked three.
Upper Lake is off until Thursday when it hosts Tomales at 4 p.m.
