Sophomore Madi Ludema tossed a five-hit shutout over nine innings and Carli Miklusicak clouted a game-winning two-run double to lead Wayland to a 2-0 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Cedar Springs Monday.
The Wildcats pushed their overall season record to 4-1 in the nightcap with a 10-4 triumph.
Miklusicak, Hannah Rairigh and Lauren Wright collected the ‘Cats only hits in the opener. Meanwhile, Ludema was masterful on the mound, walking none and striking out 15 batters. She outdueled Cedar Springs ace hurler Kendall Fisk, who yielded only three hits, walked two and struck out 13.
Wayland’s bats seemed to come alive in game two, as Rairigh and Rae Stallard collected three hits apiece and Reese Veltman, Ludema, Miklusicak, Wright and Harmony Laker added two each. Stallard had a pair of doubles and Laker and Rairigh added one apiece.
Miklusicak was the winning pitcher, going five innings, yielding five hits and four runs. Laker came on to pitch the last six outs, walking one and striking out three.
Cedar Springs a year ago presented the biggest threat to the Lady Wildcats’ dominance of the O-K Gold Conference. The Redhawks took a 10-2 record into the two teams’ meeting in 2023.
