Mathews can’t solve Dalton’s Carmichael

The Mustangs also committed five errors in the 6-0 loss.

By WILL HANLON

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

KENT — The Mathews Mustangs were no match for Dalton’s Jessi Carmichael, whose one-hitter led the Bulldogs to a 6-0 victory in a Division IV regional softball game Thursday at Kent State University.

“You like to win games with shutouts like this. I like pitching in close games, but it’s nice to go into Saturday with a shutout like this one,” said Carmichael, a senior.

Carmichael had a perfect game going until the fifth inning when an error finally put a Mustang runner on base. Mathews freshman third baseman Steph Durig got Mathews’ sole hit in the seventh inning.

Carmichael finished the game with 14 strikeouts and only one walk.

The Bulldogs out-hit the Mustangs 10-1, but it was the Mustangs’ five errors that cost them the most.

“When you have those errors, it sure doesn’t help,” Mathews coach Gene Cheredar said. “And we couldn’t get our bunt down. That’s pretty much it.”

Carmichael started off the game striking out five of the first six Mustang batters. Going into the bottom of the second her offense would score the first run of the game as sophomore shortstop Elle Jackson drove in senior right fielder Katie Seese, capitalizing on an overthrow to first earlier in the inning.

Threatening

The Bulldogs threatened again in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with no outs. A line drive double play got Mathews pitcher Caitlyn Youngs out of the jam, as she struck out the next batter to get out of the inning with no damage.

The bases were loaded again with no outs for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the fourth, and this time they would make the Mustangs pay for yet another error as well as two free passes by Youngs. Junior third baseman Niki Lecon doubled to deep right field to drive in a pair of runs to give the Bulldogs a 5-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the fifth, Carmichael hit a deep shot to center field as the ball bounced off the top of the fence and into fair play, doubling in a run and adding another score to the board.

Durig’s single in the top of the seventh was followed by a walk to Youngs, but Carmichael fanned the final two batters to close out any hopes of a comeback for the Mustangs.

Youngs pitched six innings and struck out seven, giving up 10 hits, three walks and six runs. Durig, Young, and sophomore center fielder Tilly Dickerson were the only runners to reach base during the game.

The Bulldogs were led offensively by Lecon, who finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Carmichael went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run. Jackson finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

“They put the ball in play, we didn’t,” Youngs said. “That’s why they won. Simple.”