Hornets Sweep Maples in Softball Doubleheader

Saline’s varsity softball team improved to 9-3 with by sweeping Adrian in a doubleheader at Monday.

The Hornets, behind junior Kristina Zalewski’s pitching, won the opener 9-0. Sophomore Lauren Vaccaro earned the win as the Hornets won the nightcap 12-2 in a five inning game.

Zalewski struck out nine Maples and gave up three hits without walking a batter.

“Kristina pitched well. The defense behind her didn’t start the game well, and that put her behind the nine ball, but she battled through it,” said Saline coach Alicia Seegert.

Saline’s offense wasted little time. Kayley Harmon walked to lead off and Samantha Bruley reached on an error. Vaccaro doubled them home and scored on Katie Alexander’s single for a 3-0 lead.

In the second, the Hornets were right back at it. Courtney Brown, Kaley Harmon and Bruley reached base. Vaccaro scored Brown and Harmon with her second double of the game. Saline led 6-0 after two.

The Hornets added two more in the fourth.

Ashlee Harmon singled and stole second. Vaccaro reached first on an error, scoring Harmon. Harmon took second. She stole third and scored on an error to make it 8-0. In the seventh, Ashlee Harmon reached on an error, stole second and came around to score.

Vaccaro gave up two unearned runs in five innings of work in the nightcap.  She gave up just two hits and struck out four without walking a batter. Vaccaro had a no-hitter until the fourth when the leadoff hitter reached base on an error. She got the next two hitters out but the Maples struck for their only two runs that inning.

The Saline bats exploded for seven first-inning runs. With one out, Ashlee Harmon reached on a single. Bruley reached on an error. Vaccaro singled a run in. Alexander followed with a deep shot to right-center. Both runners scored and Alexander slid safely into home for an inside-the-park homerun. Up 4-0, Saline wasn’t finished. Alexis Deland singled and Leathers walked. Julia Anderson singled home one run. Brown singled home another. Anderson also crossed the plate to make it 7-0.

Vaccaro made it 8-0 with a homer in the second. Saline tacked on four runs in the third. Brown walked to lead off and was bunted to second by Kaylee Harmon. Ashlee Harmon singled Brown home.  Bruley followed with a single.  Vaccaro’s single scored a run. A fielder’s choice scored another run. Vaccaro scored on a single by Deland to make it 12-0.

Vaccaro finished with seven RBI on the day.

“We’re swinging the bats really well. I’m happy with the way we’re playing,” said Seegert. “But we’re still a young team. We’ve got to work on the mental aspects of the game. We can be a lot better.”