Alexis Burns pitched the first game against Rockford.
The Miners started their softball morning off with a bang, scoring 14 runs in the first inning against Rockford. They eventually went on to score 14 more runs before they short gamed them after 5 strong innings with a final of 28-0.
Laura Halpin starred against Metro East.
Sophomore Alexis Burns pitched the entire first game and ended with a perfect game with 6 strikeouts and no hits or walks.
The Miners combined for 10 hits, 4 coming in the first inning where they batted their lineup twice. Abbie Cline was perfect at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a single and a double. Payton Anderson and Allison Goldasich both contributed 2 hits each while Denae Richardson, Jessika Besserman, Molly Gray, and Kaily Frensko added 1 hit.
Gillespie matched up with Edwardsville Metro East Lutheran for the second game of the day. Gillespie came out on top in the first inning scoring a single run. The lead was sufficient until the fourth inning where a homerun by Metro tied up the game. Gillespie went on to add another run in the 6th while Metro East added 6 runs in the late innings, giving us a final of 7-2.
Junior Laura Halpin, Gillespie’s ace, got her first start of the season. She pitched almost perfect through 4, but the defense struggled in the
Abbie Cline frames the pitch for a called strikeout.
second half of the game tallying with 4 errors. Halpin ended the game with 6 strikeouts, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 unearned runs, and 3 walks.
Even though the Miners had Metro East through 4 and a half innings, one run was not enough to get a second win on the day. Laura Halpin led the team at the plate in the second game going 2 for 3 with two singles. Abbie Cline also contributed 2 hits, one being a double. Payton Anderson also tallied a double while Loni Nicole Manalia and Taylor Monke both added a single hit.
Ellen Gray bunts for a sacrifice to advance Laura Halpin to third.
Even though the Miners went 1-1 on the day and had 4 errors, both pitchers had strong performances on the mound. Considering the Miners have been limited to only a handful of outdoor practices, this season should be exciting. With a strong returning core and a new group of young talent, losses should be few and far between for the Miners this year.
Next Monday at 4:15, the Miners match up with Edwardsville High School at Welfare Park in Gillespie.
Jessika Besserman drives the ball up the middle.