The Soldotna softball team is on a roll headed into a crucial two-game series next weekend in Kodiak.
The Stars swept Bartlett 16-3 in 3 1-2 innings and 10-9 in five innings Saturday at the Soldotna Little League fields.
The three-game winning streak has put SoHi’s overall mark at 4-11. SoHi has three Northern Lights Conference losses, while the Bears have two losses, headed into the final two conference games for both teams. The two will battle it out for the NLC’s final state berth.
In the first game, Emily Jackson made her first varsity start and went four innings with five strikeouts and four walks, giving up a hit and an earned run.
Amber McDonald had an inside-the-park home run and was 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Jazi Larrow was 2 for 2 with two doubles, Ila Cobb was 1 for 2 with two RBIs and Emma Landeis had a pinch-hit double for two RBIs.
In the second game, Jackson pitched the first three innings and gave up five runs — two earned. Delaney Schneider pitched the last two innings and struck out four.
On offense, Meghan Ussing was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, Carlin Meyer was 1 for 2 with two RBIs, Jordan Martin had two RBIs and Cobb had two RBIs.
Seniors Landeis, Cobb, Peyton Thomas, Hannah Mayo and Mikayla Miller were honored for senior day.
“It was really cool not only to get the wins but to honor them and thank them for their dedication,” SoHi coach Kelli Knoebel said.
Kenai Central splits with Bartlett
The host Kardinals moved to 2-7 overall by splitting with Bartlett on Friday.
Kenai lost 25-12 in four innings before winning 14-12 in four innings.
In the first game, the Golden Bears scored 11 runs in the fourth to take command.
Kenai did have all nine of the players in the lineup get a base hit.
Alyssa Herr was 2 for 4 with an RBI; Darcy Blume was 2 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs; Emily Koziczkowski was 2 for 3 with an RBI; Cierra King was 1 for 3 with two RBIs; Ellen Weaver was 2 for 3 with an RBI; and Erin Cox was 3 for 3 with two RBIs.
After a tough finish to the first game, King pitched the whole second game and gave up nine walks while striking out six and working around seven errors.
Patricia Catacutan was 4 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Kards. Also for Kenai, Herr was 2 for 3 with an RBI; Koziczkowski was 2 for 3 with two RBIs; King was 2 for 2 with three RBIs, Darian Saltenberger was 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs; Drew Peterson was 3 for 3; and Annika Oren was 2 for 3.
“Our bats really came alive,” Kenai coach Mark King said. “If we could get our pitching and defense going, we’d be looking much better.”
The Kards host Homer on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in their final game of the season.
