Kirtland played a complete game in beating host Riverside, 7-2, in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
The Hornets weren’t as fortunate in the second as the Beavers stormed back to win, 16-3.
“Today was a great day,” said Kirtland coach Jamie Kamensky. “We saw a lot from top to bottom in our lineup. We made a lot of routine plays and used today and challenge to prep for Monday against Independence. The fact that we competed and stole one game from a Lake County staple in softball shows that we can compete with just about anyone. Today was a huge confidence builder and statement for our program. We’re excited to get at it next week.”
Emily Ungrady didn’t allow an earned run and struck out 10 in the first game. She also added a pair of hits, including a triple.
She now has 58 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.
“This was a big game for us all as a team,” Ungrady said. ‘They were a solid team but we came out and played our game and got the ‘W’. After beating them in game one, it gave us all a great confidence boost going into next week. We see that when we play our game we can hang with and beat those high-level teams.”
Elizabeth Vernon, Vikki Carriero and Julia Camino all finished the first game with two hits. Vernon doubled while Carriero tripled and knocked in two runs.
“Our offense looked good,” Kamensky said. “We had a lot of clutch hits. Ungrady and Carriero are a great tandem in the lineup right now. We also saw our lineup pick up each other. It was a very good day at the plate.”
The Hornets pounded out eight hits in the second game but could only push across the three runs.
Carriero was 3-for-3.
Morgan Faber allowed just three earned runs in four innings.
Allie Binkiewicz and Mayli Mellon both had three hits for the Beavers in the second game. Binkiewicz also had a double and Mellon, who finished the doubleheader 5-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI, homered.
