WARSAW – The Warsaw softball team is a work in progress this season.

That work continued Wednesday night for the Tigers.

A fast start carried a strong Mishawaka team past host Warsaw 15-3 in the second game of the young season for both teams.

The Tigers, under first-year coach Kevin Dishman, drop to 0-2 on the season. Warsaw lost its opener at home Monday to South Bend Riley by an 18-2 final.

“This is a good group and they are working hard to fix the things that we need to,” said Dishman following the game. “They are doing what we are asking them to do. Right now, I’m not that concerned with the score. I want to make sure that we are improving each game.

“Tonight, I saw some things that I wanted to see that we worked on yesterday (Tuesday) in practice. We want to be aggressive running the bases and I saw a lot of that tonight. It was just that the error bug bit us tonight and that hurt.”

Mishawaka, which opened its season with a 30-4 win at Lakeland last week, took control of the contest by plating four runs in their first at bat. The Cavemen got a big double from sophomore Taylor Beck and a key two-run single from sophomore Jordyn Banks in the first inning. Mishawaka also took advantage of three Warsaw errors in the frame. The Tigers had six errors in the loss.

“I like that we rode the bus for an hour and 10 minutes, had an abbreviated pre game warmup and then made solid contact in that first inning,” said Mishawaka coach Brian Miller. “We talked about getting on the board in the first and the girls came out and hit the ball.”

The Cavemen stretched the lead to 5-0 in the second on a solo homer to centerfield by senior Olivia Chrobot.

Warsaw dented the scoreboard for the first time in the home half of the second. Sidney Hernandez, one of five seniors for the Tigers, led off the frame with a long home run over the left field fence.

Mishawaka plated four more runs in the third and one in the fourth to make it 10-1. The hosts got an RBI single from Hernandez in the fourth inning and an RBI single from senior Ashley Gamble in the sixth to make it 10-3. The Cavemen then scored five runs in the top of the seventh, including RBI singles by Beck and Banks.

The Tigers, who graduated five seniors from last year’s 8-19 team,  were missing several players who had already left for Spring Break. Dishman noted that several of his players in the lineup Wednesday were playing different or new positions due to the shortage of players.

“I was proud of Sidney tonight,” remarked Dishman. “The home run was her pitch to hit. That’s what we need from our seniors. I was also really happy with Karly Jones and how she played in centerfield for us tonight.

“I like where we are headed.”

Hernandez had three hits to lead the offense for Warsaw.

Sophomore Abby Glass went the distance in the circle for the Tigers. She struck out two and walked seven and allowed five earned runs.

Banks notched the win for Mishawaka with six solid innings of work. She struck out seven and walked just one.

“Jordyn was much more efficient tonight and had better command,” Miller said. “I don’t think that we have a weak out in our lineup and I love our speed. The chemistry of this team is also really good.”

Mishawaka won the junior varsity game 15-3.

Warsaw is idle with Spring Break next week until hosting East Noble April 14. Mishawaka hosts West Noble Friday and plays at Chesterton Saturday.