Chiefs softball get first Big 9 win with split

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake and Wenatchee. Chiefs and Panthers.

Yeah, it was game on all over again Tuesday at Larson Field.

The two softball teams battled it out in a Big 9 doubleheader and each came away with an 8-7 win to split the twinbill.

Moses Lake (7-5, 1-3) kick started the day with a come-from behind win in game one.

Wenatchee led 7-3 going into the fourth inning despite facing a strong pitching performance by Moses Lake's Haylie VanLaethem.

"We had terrible defense behind her and had six errors that I counted," Moses Lake head coach Dave Gregory said. "We can't give these teams more than three outs in an inning. Haylie pitched one of her better games."

The Chiefs' rally started in the sixth inning when Hailee Bishop singled with one out and that was followed by another hit by Cassandra Guerrero and a walk of Tressa Radach to load the bases.

VanLaethem then singled in Bishop and Guerrero and the score was 7-5.

On out later Bree Valdez singled to bring home Radach and Moses Lake was within striking range.

After shutting down the Panthers' offense in the top of the seventh, the Chiefs had one more at-bat to capture their first Big 9 win of the season.

Katie Martinez reached base on an Wenatchee error with one out and then Radach singled one batter later to put two runners in scoring position with two outs.

There, Tasha Gentry belted a two-run single to bring home Martinez and Radach and the win was in hand.

"It was huge since we are fighting for third place with Wenatchee since we both have a change at regionals," Gregory said. "It was good to win it that way after getting smoked by Richland. It was also important for Tasha to get that hit and its always fun winning it in the bottom of the seventh."

Guerrero went 3-for-5 with two RBI, Radach ended up 3-for-4 and an RBI, while VanLaethem, who earned the win on the mound, went 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Wenatchee returned the favor in the second game as they rallied from a 7-1 deficit after the second innings.

"It's hard to lose a game like that," Gregory said. "The kids played hard and every time we play Wenatchee we are pretty evenly matched. It's just disappointing when you were up 7-1."

Bishop keyed a six-run Chiefs second inning with a three-run home run, and ended up 3-for-4 while Guerrero went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Holly Perry went 2-for-4 for Moses Lake.

Sadie Smigaj started and was relieved by Haylie, who earned the loss after a sixth inning error by Moses Lake pushed across the Wenatchee winning run.

"We will be okay," Gregory said. "We just need to be play with confidence and not be so nervous."