ARCANUM – Arcanum scored in five of the six innings it went to the plate on Tuesday in a 13-4 victory over the Eaton softball team.
Arcanum recorded 14 hits in Tuesday’s game, including the first career home runs of Shai Robinson and Kaylee Wilcox.
“Hitting is contagious,” Arcanum softball coach Rick Stone said. “They produced every inning other than that first inning.”
After a 1-2-3 first inning, Arcanum pitcher Elle Siculan found herself in a jam in the top half of the second inning after giving up two consecutive one-out hits by Annika Gels and Ashley Earley. However, Siculan recorded back-to-back strikeouts to strand both runners.
Eaton failed to convert on its first scoring opportunity, but Arcanum didn’t as the Trojans plated seven runs in the bottom half of the second inning.
Gracie Garno started off the rally by reaching base on an Eaton error. Robinson then hit a home run to put the Trojans up 2-0.
Hannah Weaver and Wilcox kept the rally going with back-to-back singles. Following a sacrifice bunt by Siculan, Brittany Kinney reached base on Eaton’s second error of the inning, which allowed both runners to score and make it 4-0.
After hustling to second on Eaton’s error, Kinney was able to score one batter later when McKenzie Sharritts lined a double down the third base line to make it 5-0.
Following a single by Kaitlyn Zell that scored Sharritts, Cassidy Clark and Garno kept the rally going with two more singles to bring in another run and increase the lead to 7-0.
Robinson then walked to load the bases before Eaton got out of the inning, leaving the bases loaded.
Eaton cut into Arcanum’s lead in the third inning with a pair of runs. Bailee Worley singled and Logan Unger doubled to put a pair of runners in scoring position.
With two outs in the inning Becca Mowen reached on an error, which allowed Eaton’s first run to score. Then Gels singled to bring in another run, making it 7-2.
A walk loaded the bases, but Arcanum got out of the jam without further damage when Clark made a diving catch in center field for the final out of the inning.
“Great hook slide catch there by Cassidy Clark,” Stone said. “She’s been a three-year starter out there in center field. She does a great job.”
In the bottom half of the inning Arcanum scored again. Wilcox led off the inning with a single. Brenna Loxley, Wilcox’s courtesy runner, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Siculan. After a single by Kinney advanced her to third, Loxley scored on a sacrifice fly by Sharritts to make it 8-2.
Arcanum continued to add to its lead in the fourth inning. Robinson and Weaver drew back-to-back two-out walks then Wilcox singled to drive in Robinson and increase the lead to 9-2.
In the fifth inning Arcanum got a pair of runs on passed balls. Zell, who reached base on a walk, and Clark, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, both scored on passed balls to increase the advantage to 11-2.
Eaton got its offense going again in the sixth inning. Quinlynn Sitloh singled and Emily Dungan reached on an error to start the rally. Both runners then scored on an error in the outfield, making it an 11-4 game.
“We’ve still got some defense we need to work on,” Stone said.
Arcanum got both runs back in the bottom half of the inning. Sydney Artz led off with a walk then Wilcox drilled a two-run home run to make it 13-4, which ultimately was the final score.
Arcanum out-hit Eaton 14 to eight in Tuesday’s game. Both teams committed three errors.
Wilcox led Arcanum at the plate by going 4-for-4 with a home run. Robinson was 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks. Kinney was 3-for-4 with a double. Sharritts was 2-for-2 with a walk. Garno, Weaver and Zell each singled and walked once. Clark also had a hit.
“They’ve got a heck of a pitcher,” Stone said. “It took us an inning or two to get our timing down on her, but we were fortunate tonight to hit the ball well and get her out of the game for a while.”
Siculan earned the win for Arcanum as she pitched the complete game, allowing four unearned runs on eight hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
“She did a good job there,” Stone said. “They’re a good hitting team; Eaton is a good hitting team. She got a couple jams there, but she battled and got herself out of it.”
Arcanum improved to 6-0 with Tuesday’s win.
