Homer softball emerged victorious over Kenai Central for the second time in three days Thursday with a 9-2 win at Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai.
Homer outlasted Kenai in a 23-15 game Tuesday in Homer that produced a combined 32 base hits. While the Mariners cranked out 21 hits in that game, Thursday’s contest was much more pitcher friendly, and both coaches noticed it.
“I asked (Homer coach) Bill (Bell), ‘What’s going on?’” said Kenai head coach John Manley.
The two sides combined for 19 hits Thursday. Bell and Manley both said their defenses played cleanly in the infield, leading to a lower-scoring game.
“This is certainly one of the more solid Kenai teams I’ve seen in recent years,” Bell said.
Hannah Hatfield hit 3 for 4 to lead Homer, including a triple, while Kaitlyn Johnson and Haylee Owen both notched doubles. Hatfield, Sam Moonin and Ksenia Kuzmin all batted in runs in the middle of the Homer lineup.
Alyssa Stanton hit 2 for 4 as Kenai’s leadoff batter, including a double. Savannah Jones had an RBI double.
In the pitching circle, Annalyn Brown struck out seven Kenai batters and gave up just two earned runs on five hits and two walks in a crisp seven frames of work for Homer.
Jones also pitched a complete game, whiffing seven while giving up 14 hits and six walks.
Homer plated four runs in the fifth inning to break the game open, thanks to RBI singles from Sam Moonin and Aspen Walli and a ground-out by Ksenia Kuzmin.
