Mount Vernon erupts late to down Oak Harbor / Softball

Published 1:30 am Thursday, March 16, 2017

Mount Vernon’s bats heated up late to lead the Bulldogs to a 16-5 win in six innings over Oak Harbor in the season-opening softball game for both schools Wednesday, March 15, at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Oak Harbor’s game at Mariner Tuesday, March 14, was rained out and will be played Thursday, March 23.

After registering only five hits over the first four innings, Mount Vernon smacked eight over the final two to break open a close game.

The Bulldogs struck first with three unearned runs in the second inning.

Oak Harbor immediately responded with three runs in its half of the inning.

Halle Carpenter lofted a triple, then, with two outs, Miranda Wilson and Taylor Wilson walked to load the bases. Freshman Haley Abbott followed with a shot by the shortstop to plate two runs. Another freshman, Brooke Gilham, then singled in Abbott.

Mount Vernon took a 4-3 lead in the fourth, then upped the advantage to 8-3 with a four-run fifth.

Oak Harbor got back into the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

With one out, Gilham reached on an error and Cierra LeGendre was hit by a pitch. Audrey Howard chased them home with a triple.

The Bulldogs put the game away with an eight-run sixth, combining an error and three walks with five hits.

Wildcat pitcher LeGendre, a sophomore, finished with six strikeouts, five over the first two innings.

Oak Harbor coach Tashina Tosh liked how her team was “aggressive at the plate.”

“We made them pitch to us,” she added.

The Wildcats struck out only twice in the game.

Oak Harbor begins league play at 5 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Everett.