MARSHALL, MI (WTVB) – The two co-leaders in the Interstate 8 softball standings squared off at Wise Field in Marshall Monday evening, and the Coldwater Cardinals came out on top in both games, winning by scores of 2-1 and 10-7.
In the opener, the Redhawks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Cardinals answered with two unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Winning pitcher Alexis Bills gave up three hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Danika Cox’s double was one of five hits allowed by losing pitcher Emmalie Hirst.
Coldwater collected 14 hits in the nightcap and scored 9 runs in the first three innings off Hirst. Relief pitcher Lanie Churchill held the Cardinals to just one run the rest of the way. Maren DeBeau singled, tripled and drove in four runs, while Kenzie Scheid had a double and a triple, Rylee Rice tripled, Alexis Bills doubled, and Mya Porter had three hits. Porter got the pitching victory, and Bills earned the save.
With the two wins, Coldwater improved to 26-8 overall, 11-1 in the Interstate 8, while Marshall dropped to 24-11 overall, 9-3 in league play. The two teams will see each other again next Tuesday in a Division 2 Pre-District game. Before that, the Cardinals entertain Lumen Christi on Tuesday with a chance to clinch the I-8 title. They wrap up the regular season Thursday at home against Otsego.
Listen to our coverage of the second game again:
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