The Wayland softball team appears to have hit a bad patch lately, losing three of its last four outings.

The Lady Wildcats lost 11-5 to St. Joseph Saturday afternoon in the finals of the Wayland Invitational. They led 4-0 after the first three innings, but then the Bears came up with three runs in the fourth, five in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Abby Merice pitched five and a third innings, allowing 10 runs on 11 hits while striking out two. Lauren McCulligh pitched an inning and two-thirds in relief and only allowed one run on no hits.

Leading the Wildcats offensively were: Skylar Stora, 2-3 with two triples and two runs batted in; Leigha Morse, 2-4 with a double, and Sydney Urben, 1-3 with a double and RBI.

The Lady Wildcats edged Schoolcraft 4-3 earlier in the day in the first round of the invitational. They scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh and final inning.

Merice pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits while striking out nine.

Leading the Wildcats offensively were Urben, 3-3 with a double, triple and RBI; Merice, 2-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Bethany Teunissen, 2-4 with a double.

Wayland’s overall season record now is 14-4 and it is still undefeated in O-K Gold Conference play.