After getting shutout in seven of the previous eight games, the Oak Harbor High School softball team exploded for 10 first-inning runs in a 17-5, five-inning shellacking of host Shorewood Tuesday, April 28.

The fun, however, did not last long as Northwest Conference leader Ferndale (8-0, 14-1) beat the host Wildcats 14-4 in five innings in a nonleague game Wednesday, April 30.

Against Shorewood, Oak Harbor took advantage of six first-inning walks and key hits by Tricia Sarns and Nathalie Gotz to bury the Thunderbirds (1-7, 3-12).

The Wildcats tacked on two runs in the third. Kelley Findley walked and Alexa Findley singled and they moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Gotz.

Oak Harbor wrapped up the scoring with five in the fifth with the help of two errors, a double by Sarns and singles by Gotz and Sydney White.

Sarns finished with three hits, including two doubles. Gotz also collected three hits, and Alexa Findley had two.

Kat Martinez pitched five innings and gave up eight hits and one earned run and struck out three.

“We executed some to the defensive we have been working on in practice,” coach Todd Showalter said. “It’s nice to see the progress.”

Against Ferndale, Oak Harbor fell behind 14-0 after three innings. The Golden Eagles used 15 hits (five by Savanna Shawler) and four Oak Harbor errors to cruise to the win.

The Wildcats scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning.

Oak Harbor (1-7, 2-13) goes to Everett (4-4, 5-10) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6.