Cardinals pick up first win of season

By Peter Melkus
INDEX Sports Writer

DAVISON — After a 0-12 start, Davison softball finally secured its first win of the season with a suspenseful 4-3 victory in game one of a doubleheader against Grand Blanc Monday.
After the Bobcats struck first in the top of the fifth with one run scored by Alex Merritt, Davison answered in the bottom of the inning when Nicole Hoenstine (2-for-3) reached base with a single and eventually took advantage of a Bobcat error with two outs to score Davison’s first run.
The game turned into a 1-1 pitcher’s duel until the sixth inning when Vanessa Cuevas and Angie Mullally scored for the Bobcats. Once again, the Cards answered the Cats’ challenge in an error-filled inning for Grand Blanc, scoring Kaleigh Gritzinger and Tori Babcock to once again knot the game up at 3-3.
The Cardinals’ game-winning run came in the bottom of the seventh when a pair of squeeze bunts by Lisa Price and Tori Babcock advanced and eventually scored base runner Abby Adams, who singled to lead off the inning. Adams’ run broke the 3-3 deadlock and secured a W in Davison’s record book.
Lisa Price picked up the Cardinal win on the mound with five strikeouts, one walk and three runs allowed on seven hits as Grand Blanc’s Kaylan Shoops struck out six and walked six in the losing effort.
Unfortunately, Davison’s celebration was short-lived as the Bobcat bats came alive and the Cards were bitten by the error bug late in the 11-1 loss in the nightcap.
Although Davison struck first on a first inning Sam White run, it would prove to be their only offense of the game as the Bobcats’ D shut them down and turned up its offensive effort. Grand Blanc drove in seven runs in the sixth and final inning, adding to its previous 4-1 lead in the fifth to force a mercy-rule ending to the game.
Lisa Price took the loss in her second game of the day as Grand Blanc’s Angie Mullally struck out eight en route to her team’s victory. Abby Adams led Davison’s offense, going 2-for-3 with a RBI.
The Cardinals dropped both games in their previous series against Kearsley last Thursday by scores of 7-0 and 11-4. Kearsley improved its then record to 10-4 overall and remained undefeated in Big Nine play at 4-0.
The Hornets’ Casey Curtis hit a pair of home runs on the day, drove in three runs and scored three of her own to charge Kearsley past Davison. Kayla Queen hit five doubles and scored three runs on the day for Kearsley as well.
The Cards’ offense was ran by Abby Adams, who had three hits and two RBI, Lisa Price had three hits and Bailey Patterson hit two doubles in the losing effort.
Davison is now 1-13 overall, 1-5 Big Nine, and looks to get back on track today at home against conference rival Powers. The Cardinals also will square off against Midland Dow in an out-of-conference battle May 3 and return to Big Nine play with another doubleheader at Kearsley May 5.