Memorial Squeaks By Wawasee

For the second time in as many weeks, Elkhart Memorial did just enough to garner a softball win over Wawasee. The Charger put together two runs in the first inning and one more in the third to defeat the Warriors, 3-1, Friday afternoon in Syracuse.

Paula Strausborger was 2-3 for Memorial, scoring one of the three runs. Lauren Strausborger was credited with the lone RBI for Memorial and both the Strausborger sisters had a stolen base in the contest.

Alli Ousley did what she could for Wawasee (5-8, 2-6 NLC), firing seven innings of four-hit, four-strikeout ball at Memorial, with just two of the three runs earned. Memorial starter Gretchen Hurtle outdueled Ousley, working all seven innings on the road giving up just six hits and a lone RBI single to Aly Anderson in the second inning. Victoria Warren added two hits in two at-bats for the Lady Warriors, which lost 5-2 to Memorial last Thursday.

Wawasee’s JV (8-1) continued its assault on willing opponents, beating Memorial 5-4. A four-run second inning was the difference for Wawasee, which were led by three hits apiece from Bethany Hapner and Cristina DeLaFuente. Hapner scored two runs in the game.

Chargers Return Favor

After Wawasee thumped Memorial for its only NLC win to date, the Chargers defended its home field with a 9-6 win in eight innings Friday night.

The loss for Wawasee (3-10, 1-7 NLC) was the third time this season Wawasee has lost an extra innings affair in the NLC. The crusher Friday was a walk-off, three-run homer by Noah Pawlak in the eighth. Pawlak was on the hook for the loss on the mound as Wawasee batted him around for six runs in two-plus innings. But Scottie Clark worked five-plus innings of spotless relief as Memorial scored single runs in the third and fifth innings to draw even at 6-6.

Milligan took the loss for Wawasee, working two innings of relief.

Wawasee’s JV program (6-3) teed off on Memorial to the tune of a 19-9 victory Friday night. Colin Beer and Aaron Voirol combined for eight hits while Drew Wright had a homer, scored four runs and drove in five to lead the charge for the Warriors. Pat Navarro added three hits and five runs scored while Lucas Garza had four hits and two RBIs. Sam Rookstool was credited with the win.