The host Kenai Central softball team improved to 3-9 overall with a sweep of Houston on Saturday.
The Kardinals won the first game 17-6 in five innings. Caitlin Crabb pitched all five and walked three while striking out two.
“We hit well today,” Kenai coach John Manley said. “We hit a little snag where we haven’t been hitting well the last two games.”
Zaharah Wilshusen was 4 for 4, Andie Galloway was 2 for 4, Kyana Griskevich was 3 for 4 with two doubles, Maggie Granier reached base three times and scored twice, Crabb was 3 for 4 with two runs, Libby Brinner was 2 for 3, Hermoine Lanfear was 2 for 3, and Taylor Carver had a hit and a walk.
The second game went to Kenai 17-4 in three innings. Crabb worked the first two innings and struck out two with a walk, while Libby Brinner had no walks in an inning.
Wilshusen had two hits and two runs, Galloway had a single and double, Griskevich had a single and double, Granier had three hits, Brinner had a single and double, Crabb walked twice, Shelby Burman had a hit, Carver had a walk and a hit, and Lanfear had a hit.
Palmer softball sweeps Kenai Central
The visiting Moose took a pair of nonconference games from the Kardinals on Friday as Kenai fell to 1-9 overall.
Kenai coach John Manley said Kenai’s defense had some holes in a Thursday loss to Soldotna, but Manley was happy with the way the defense rebounded Friday. He said Kenai’s problem was hitting.
Kenai lost the first game 13-2 in five innings. Caitlin Crabb pitched the whole game for Kenai and Manley said Crabb did fine.
Zaharah Wilshusen had two walks and a run, while Kyana Griskevich had two hits and a run.
Kenai lost the second game 16-2 in four innings. Griskevich and Crabb got the Kards through the first inning on the mound, then Libby Brinner pitched the final three innings and she was much improved.
Griskevich had two hits, while Wilshusen had one walk, one hit and a run, and Maggie Granier scored a run.
Homer-Kodiak series canceled
Due to a positive COVID-19 test in the Homer softball program, the Mariners did not travel to Kodiak for the weekend. Homer coach Bill Bell said in a text message his team will play Thursday at Soldotna at the earliest.
Soldotna softball splits with Houston
The visiting Hawks won the first game 19-5 of the Friday Northern Lights Conference doubleheader in four innings before the Stars came back with an 11-3 victory in six innings in the second game.
SoHi coach Kelli Knoebel said in a text message that SoHi pitchers struggled to control the plate and her team also committed untimely errors in the first game.
Brook Fischer was 1 for 2 with a triple and a walk and Emily Hinz was 2 for 3.
In the second game, Miah Mead picked up the victory on the mound for the Stars. Fischer led the way at the plate by going 3 for 4 with a walk, three RBIs and a run scored. Bailey Conner was 2 for 3 with a walk, RBI and three runs.
Palmer softball sweeps Soldotna
The host Stars dropped a pair of nonconference games Saturday to leave their overall record at 3-7.
Soldotna dropped the first game 20-14. Mead took the loss as Knoebel said SoHi’s defense again struggled, but offense kept the Stars in the game as they trailed 11-7 after four innings.
Knoebel said the Stars played good defense to hold Palmer down in the fifth and sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, the Stars rallied with Ashlyn Asp and Lexi Stormo starting the inning with singles.
Makynzi Deborski and Harlee Thomas pushed across runs, then Emily Hinz hit a triple to score Thomas and put the Stars up 14-12.
However, Palmer was able to rally to take the game.
SoHi lost the second game 22-0. Knoebel wrote that SoHi’s youth and varsity inexperience showed up during a fifth game in three days.
