Playing its first game since March 24, the Tenino softball team dropped both of its league-opening contests against Eatonville, 7-5, and 13-3, Friday evening in Tenino, and dropping the season series with the Cruisers in the process.
The Beavers got a dazzling performance from senior ace Emily Baxter in the first game, throwing for 17 strikeouts over eight innings with just two walks and four earned runs. Baxter also went 4 for 5 at the plate to lead all Beaver batters.
Tied up at 5-5 after a late Beaver rally, Eatonville launched a home run in their first at-bat with an extra-innings runner starting on second to go up two, and the Beavers couldn’t score in the bottom of the inning to keep it going.
The second game wasn’t nearly as close, as Baxter pitched six more innings with seven strikeouts, four walks, and seven earned runs to her name. Eight Beaver errors in the field made the difference though, and powerful Cruiser bats that launched three home runs off Baxter.
Offensively, the Beavers had just five hits, with Abby Severse going 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and Kayla Feltus going 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs.
Tenino (1-8, 0-2 1A Evergreen) will look to respond and pick up its first league win against Hoquiam in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
