Cardinals split doubleheader with White Cloud after late-game rally in nightcap

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WHITECLOUD — Mason County Eastern split a non-conference softball doubleheader Friday against White Cloud, dropping the opener 4-3 before rallying for a 12-5 win in the nightcap.

The Cardinals appeared poised to take the first game after scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning to grab a 3-1 lead.

Eastern capitalized on White Cloud miscues, scoring on a dropped third strike, an error and an RBI groundout by Anna Story.

White Cloud answered in the bottom half of the inning and took the lead for good after a triple to right field and a Cardinals error plated the deciding run.

Miley Kessel turned in a dominant performance in the circle despite the loss, striking out 14 batters while allowing four hits and four runs over six innings. She also walked five.

White Cloud scored its first run on a passed ball in the third inning.

Burgess earned the win for White Cloud, giving up one hit and three runs — none earned — over six innings while striking out nine and walking five.

Story drove in a run for MCE, while Kessel led the Cardinals offensively by going 2-for-4.

Eastern bounced back in the second game with a seven-run seventh inning to secure the split.

The Cardinals broke open a 5-5 tie in the final inning as Kessel singled home two runs, Brailyn Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk, Remington Smith delivered a three-run triple and Alice Shoup was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run.

MCE scored first in the opening inning when Bridget Whitaker grounded out to bring home a run. The Cardinals added another run in the second after Emma Whitaker singled.

White Cloud moved ahead 5-4 in the fifth inning behind a two-run single by Burgess, an Eastern error and an RBI double by Chalmers.

The Cardinals tied the game in the sixth when Hope Figgins grounded into a double play that allowed a run to score.

Shoup earned the win for Eastern, allowing one hit and one unearned run over two innings while striking out four and walking one. Kessel collected the save.

Smith led the Cardinals with two hits and a team-high three RBIs, highlighted by her three-run triple in the seventh inning. Bryanna Hasenbank drew three walks as Eastern showed patience at the plate with 11 walks overall.

The game ended with a defensive highlight as center fielder Emma Whitaker made a catch on a deep drive to secure the victory.

“We still have some little things to work out on the field and on the base path,” Cardinals coach Jennifer Whitaker said. “Number one being in control of our bodies, making good choices and remembering what our count is. Overall tonight’s games were well played by both teams.”

MCE returns to action Thursday with a conference matchup against Bear Lake.