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Washington Evening Journal
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Mt. Pleasant softball challenges Burlington
Panthers play first-place Grayhounds tight, fall by 3
MT. PLEASANT — It wasn’t a win for the Mt. Pleasant softball team on Thursday night, but the Panthers gave Burlington a much bigger sweat than expected.
For the second time in three matchups, Mt. Pleasant stuck with Burlington throughout the game, but the Panthers didn’t quite have enough offense in a 5-2 loss.
The three-run loss comes off the heals of Monday’s doubleheader in Burlington. In one of those games, the Panthers had Burlington within one run until the final three innings of a 4-0 Grayhound victory.
“We played them tough once last year, but two out of three this week is nice,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Mike Beason. “It kind of emphasizes that our kids are headed in the right way.”
Burlington led 2-0 after the top of the third, but Mt. Pleasant came back with one of their own, and the game was 2-1 until the fifth inning.
Much like in the 4-0 loss at Burlington, the top of the fifth spelled the undoing for Mt. Pleasant. Burlington scored four runs in the frame, including a three-run home run by eighth-grade standout Kylee Hill.
Mt. Pleasant made it interesting again, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth and threatening for more, but the Grayhound defense stood tall.
Mt. Pleasant was led offensively by Emma Starr, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Addison Clark was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Kynlee White had the team’s only other hit.
Tyi Alter, who kept Burlington off balance on Monday, pitched 4.1 innings on Thursday. She gave up five earned runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out one batter.
Jolynn Martin came in to pitch in relief and close out the game.
Mt. Pleasant traveled to Wilton for a game Saturday, and lost 10-1 against the Beavers, who stand with a 17-7 record on the season so far.
On Saturday, Mt. Pleasant’s only run came in the top of the fourth inning. At the time, that cut the Wilton lead to 3-1.
Mt. Pleasant is now 4-15 overall and 1-8 in conference play. The Panthers will host rival Fairfield (9-9, 4-5) in a doubleheader on Monday night. Coach Beason says the Trojans will be a tough out.
“ (Trojan pitcher) Coty Engle is a handful,” Beason said. “I have all the respect in the world for her. We've just got to go battle, and hopefully get one.”
