The Wayland varsity softball team, a perennial Class B state powerhouse, suffered an extra-inning 1-0 shutout loss to Zeeland West Saturday at the Whitehall Invitational.

The Wildcats banged out five hits, but could not get one runner to touch the plate. Morgan Engelsman threw the shutout for Zeeland, walking three and striking out eight.

Senior hurler Mallory Teunissen absorbed the loss, despite yieling just two hits over her nine innings of work.

Zeeland West beat Wayland Union in a 1-0, 9 inning nail bitter between senior pitchers,   Taylor Siersma drove in the lone run of the game in the top of the ninth inning. Brianna Kikendall started the inning on second base (international tie breaker rules) and sophomore Sarah VanValkenburg put down a sacrifice bunt to move her to third before Siersma delivered a single to right field.

Wayland’s record fell to 5-1 after it mauled Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills last week, 37-0 and 19-1 in season-opening O-K Gold Conference encounters and won three other encounters at Whitehall.

The Lady Wildcats defeated Tri-County 15-0, Allendale 10-0 and Spring Lake 2-0. Leading the Wildcats were C.J. Miller, Hannah Sikkema, and freshman Sydney Urben.

Coach Cheri Ritz’s group will be back in O-K Gold action at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday as host to Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.

PHOTO: Senior Mallory Teunissen tossed a two-hitter over nine innings Saturday, but had to absorb the hard-luck pitching loss.