Bats help Cavs get past Wildcats

COLDWATER - In the midst of a busy week, Coldwater has jumped out to a good start.

Timely hitting and solid relief work from Emma Homan allowed the Cavaliers to start this week of seven games 2-1 after picking up their second MAC softball win of the season with an 11-7 win over Minster on Wednesday afternoon at the Lady Cav Diamond.

Coldwater improves to 9-6 and 2-2 in MAC play. Minster evens its record to 10-10 and drops to 1-3 in the conference.

"I was happy. We were hitting the ball well," said Coldwater coach Ken Fisher, whose team had 11 base hits on the day. "Defensively, we talked about needing to let teams score runs with two outs. We did a much better job this game.

"We have four more games this week. It's a major league schedule this week."

After spotting the Wildcats two runs in the top of the first on Jessica Berelsman's two-run single, the Cavaliers scored one in the bottom of the first and then took control in the third inning by sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs. After Rachel Klenke scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, Alanna Severt singled in a pair of runs to put the Cavs in front. Brianna Gillis followed with an RBI single to make it 5-2.

Minster responded with two runs thanks to an RBI single by Jenna Nixon and then Brooke Monnin's coming home on an error, but Emma Homan, who replaced Severt after 3 1/3 innings of work, got Taylor Kogge to ground into a fielder's choice and then struck out Alice Schmiesing to end the threat.

Coldwater wasted no time in padding the lead, scoring four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Leah Homan and Severt had RBI singles with Maura Hoying coming in to score via the wild pitch.

"Each time Minster battled back, I was proud how we battled back and answered their runs," Fisher said. "We've just got to keep things rolling and be positive."

"Coldwater can hit," Minster coach Scott Robinson said. "We know right now with Regan (Hahn, who allowed 11 runs, six earned, in the loss) pitching, we're not going to shut anybody out. We have to play defense. Once we start playing defense, we'll get over the hump."

Hoying drove in the final two Cavalier runs in the fifth with a single to score Lexi Meyer and Klenke. Hoying was one of five Coldwater batters with two hits and one of three with two or more RBIs in the game.

Emma Homan allowed just three runs - all unearned - over the final 3 2/3 innings. Minster managed two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.

Goettemoeller, Nixon and Brooke Monnin each had two hits for Minster.

Severt drove in three runs while Leah Homan and Hoying drove in a pair of runs each.

Both teams are back in MAC play today. Coldwater travels to New Bremen and Minster makes the short trek to Maria Stein to face Marion Local.