Courtesy art

MOUNT PLEASANT – The Alpena Wildcats varsity softball team took two games from the Mount Pleasant Oilers on Thursday.

The score of the first game was 6-0 in game one and the boys followed that up with a convincing 14-7 win at Central Michigan University.

Alpena’s record now stands at 22-6 overall for the season.

In game one Paige Samp delivered a masterpiece on the mound, striking out 14 batters and allowing just one hit with no walks as the Wildcats cruised to a 6-0 shutout victory.

Alpena got on the board in the second inning when Claire Jarema delivered a sacrifice fly for the game’s first run. They added another run in the third inning on a Georgia Alberts groundout. The Wildcats then put the game away in the seventh inning, as Laura Poli crushed a two-run homer to center field to cap the scoring.

Offensively, Samp and Alberts each had two hits to pace the Wildcats, who collected eight hits total. Poli finished 1 for 4 with a pair of RBIs, while Samp also swiped two bases. Alpena turned one double play defensively.

In game two, Alpena jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. After Mount Pleasant scored first in the second inning on a double, the Wildcats answered with three runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Laura Poli and an error that allowed another run to score.

The Wildcats’ offense stayed hot throughout, pounding out hits and drawing six walks. Laura Poli led the way, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two walks. Emalee Parsons also collected two hits and swiped two bases as Alpena stole four bases total in the game. The Wildcats also turned one double play defensively.

On the mound, starter Lexie Souva pitched one and two-thirds innings, allowing one run. Emma Darga came on in relief for three innings, giving up three earned runs, with one strikeout.

Head Coach of the Alpena Wildcats varsity softball team, Paul Marwede, spoke about the unique environment his team got to play in, and acknowledged the great performance delivered by Paige Samp.

“What a great opportunity to play at CMU and for the players to be able to experience that venue is something they will remember for a long time,” Marwede said. “Paige (Samp) threw a great game on the mound, spotting her pitches well and worked ahead in the count.”

The win improves momentum for the Wildcats as they prepare for their next contest, a road game at Petoskey on Tuesday.