Wayland’s state-ranked softball team lost two of three ballgames Saturday at the Gull Lake Invitational, and suffered the rare indignity of being the victims of a no-hitter in the last contest, a 17-0 loss to the home team.
Gull Lake sophomore southpaw Lauren Esman, also a heavy hitter on offense, hurled the gem at the Lady Wildcats, customarily one of the best offensive teams around.
Lauren McCulligh took the loss, allowing 16 hits and striking out one batter.
The Wildcats lost their second game 11-2 to Portage Central. They were battling in a 2-2 tie until Portage rallied for three runs in the fifth and added five more in the seventh.
Abby Merice took the loss, allowing 12 hits and striking out four. She only allowed four earned runs.
Sydney Urben went 2-for-3, Hunter Fenton 1-for-2 Chloe Coughlin had a double.
The Lady Wildcats opened the Gull Lake Invitational with a 7-4 win over Schoolcraft. Abby Merice pitched a complete game, only allowing four hits and striking out eight batters.
Leading the Wildcats offensively were Bethany Teunissen – 2-3 with a triple, double and RBI;
Chanlyn Commons – 2-4; Sydney Urben – 2-4 with a triple and three RBIs, and Hannah Sikkema – 2-4 with two RBIs.
Wayland’s overall season record now is 12-3, but it still is undefeated in the O-K Gold Conference.
