News Photo by James Andersen Alpena Community College pitcher Ashley Meyers throws during a game against Macomb on Sunday at the Huron Shores Complex. ACC split a doubleheader with the Momarchs, losing the first game 4-0 and winning the second game 1-0.

After two weeks, the Alpena Community College softball team got to experience the thrill of victory again.

Kelsey Huffman pitched a complete game and the Lumberjacks defeated Macomb 1-0 on Sunday at Huron Shores Fields to earn a split in a conference doubleheader.

The win gave ACC its first victory since April 8 and allowed the Lumberjacks to end the first of its two weekends at home on a winning note.

ACC dropped three games to Oakland on Friday and two more to the Monarchs on Saturday. The Monarchs won Sunday’s opener 4-0.

“It’s super big. What it implies, let’s them know (is) if you believe in something strong enough, it will happen,” ACC coach Shelley Hance said. “You just have to keep reaching for it. If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it.”

Alexa Quaine scored on an RBI groundout from Taylor Siersma in the top of the sixth inning to provide enough scoring for ACC to win.

With one out, Quaine singled and Ashley Meyers followed with a double, moving Quaine to third base. Siersma then hit the ball back to Macomb pitcher Miranda Hebert, allowing Quaine to score.

Offensively, ACC managed just six hits, but on defense the Lumberjacks made more than enough defensive plays to hold Macomb at bay. ACC escaped bases-loaded jams in the first and third innings and stranded two more Macomb runners in the fourth inning.

“In the past, (we’ve tended to) let that get away from us. That pitcher was tough on the mound today. Kelsey Huffman did her job,” Hance said. “I’m super proud of how the girls picked each other up. They know every ball put hit is an opportunity, but you make the right plays, talk to each other and good things come out of it.”

Huffman earned the win after striking out five, walking five and allowing six hits.

The Monarchs got runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Liz Grumeretz flew out to center field to end the game.

Meyers led ACC with two hits and Siersma had a hit and an RBI.

Macomb loaded the bases with out in the first inning, but Kelsey Huffman escaped the jam with a strikeout and a fly out to left field. The Monarchs threatened again in the third inning with one out, but ACC neutralized the threat, getting an out on a fielder’s choice and another with a strikeout.

Macomb left 10 runners aboard for the game and Megan Motte led Macomb with two hits.

A four-run second inning was more than enough to push the Monarchs to a win in the opener. Motte led the way with a two-run double and Haley Beard added an RBI single.

Much like Macomb in the second game, ACC had plenty of chances to score, but couldn’t drive in runners.

ACC had five base runners for the game, but stranded three of them on third base.

Hebert earned the win for the Monarchs, walking one, striking out nine and allowing four hits.

Quaine led ACC with two hits, both doubles.

Meyers got the start for Alpena, allowing four runs on seven hits.

“Three errors are what cost them that first game. Really that should have been a 1-0 loss as well. They earned one, we gave them the other three,” Hance said. “We talk about how we recover, how we respond. We know those things are going to happen, but we keep approaching it every time hard and the girls persevered.”

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.