ROHNERT PARK — The Upper Lake Cougars haven’t played many games this season, but they’ve won all the ones that count.
Ashlyn Wurm went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and four RBIs and winning pitcher Nya Marcks went 2-for-4 with three RBIs as the Cougars all but wrapped up the North Central League II softball race with a 10-3 victory over the Credo Gryphon, the win coming just three days after Upper Lake rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat Credo 5-4 in eight innings Friday at Upper Lake.
Upper Lake clinched a share of the league title while improving to 4-0 in the NCL II standings. The Cougars can clinch the outright championship with a win Friday at home against Tomales.
After the Cougars went up 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Credo scored three times in the bottom half to push in front. That lead lasted until the sixth when Upper Lake rallied for four runs, two scoring on Wurm’s home run. The Cougars put the game away with a four-run seventh.
Marcks struck out 10 and didn’t allow an earned run. Upper Lake backed her in the field with some timely defense early in the game, turning infield double plays in each of the first two innings.
“Our defense was there for Nya,” Upper Lake head coach Heather Wurm said. “We did a great job. When we needed a catch, we made the catch.”
Ashlyn Rhodes (1-for-3) and Maddy Young (0-for-3) also drove in runs for Upper Lake.
The Cougars’ aggressive baserunning, a key factor in their win Friday at home against Credo, was on display again Monday. Upper Lake stole seven bases and was caught only once. Jordann Gudmundson had three of those steals.
“We sure did,” Wurm said when asked if the Cougars took advantage of their speed on the basepaths.
A bit of rain fell on both teams the last two innings, but not enough to halt play.
“It sprinkled on us the last couple of innings, but the weather was perfect when the game started,” Wurm said.
