McEwan Leads Royals Over Saline

SALINE – Blissfield senior Hannah McEwan can beat you on the mound or at the plate. McEwan struck out nine Hornets and gave up one earned run in seven innings of work as Blissfield beat Saline 7-3. At the plate, McEwan went 3-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI and a run scored.

Senior Lauren Lievens also had a big day, with a single, double and walk. She scored three runs.

Blissfield scored first in the opening inning. Leadoff hitter Lauren DeMille walked and stole second. Lievens walked. McEwan singled home DeMille. Lievens went to third on the throw and scored on a wild pitch.

In the third, added to its lead. Lievens doubled. McEwan scored her with a double. She went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Megan Knierim.

In the fourth, Jennifer Sell reached base on an error by the shortstop. She moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball. DeMille doubled her home and took third on the throw to the plate. Kassie Sauter sacrifice bunted to score DeMille for a 6-0 lead.

Saline cut the lead in half in fifth. The Hornets got a lead off double. McEwan got the next two outs with an infield fly and a strikeout. The next hitter grounded to short, but the runner passed in front of Sauter as she was about to field it, and the ball got passed her, allowing a run to score. The next batter singled, putting runners at first and third. The next hitter bunted and McEwan’s errant throw allowed a run to score. A passed ball accounted for the third run.

In the sixth, the Royals capped the game with their seventh run. Lievens singled and took second on a wild pitch. McEwan’s third hit of the game, a single, drove home Lievens.

On Tuesday, Blissfield split a doubleheader with host Adrian.

Blissfield won the opener, 7-0, as McEwan once again pitched a gem, tossing a four-hit shutout. She struck out six and gave up a walk. DeMille, Zoe Brennan, Lievens, Sauter and Sell each stroked two hits for Blissfield. Lievens had two doubles. Sauter had a double and three RBI.

DeMille was the catalyst for a two-run first. She singled and took second on Jessica Martinez’s bunt. She went to third on a wild pitch. Lievens walked. Demille scored and Lievens took second on a wild pitch. McEwan singled to score Lievens.

In the third, Lievens doubled and took third on a sacrifice bunt by McEwan. She scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

Blissfield added to its lead in the fifth. McEwan walked and took second on a single by Brenna. Sauter doubled to drive them both home. Sell singled to score Sauter, making it 6-0.

In the seventh Brennan singled and stole second. She crossed the plate on a single by Sauter.

Blissfield lost the second game 8-6.

Losing pitcher Jessica Martinez gave up six runs on six hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings. Lauren Coomer finished up, giving up two unearned runs on two hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings.

Adrian went up 2-0 in the first on a triple, walk and two singles. The Maples broke the game open in the third with a single, walk and infield hit. A bases loaded walk scored the first run. A triple cleared the bases to make it 6-0.

Blissfield got on the board in the fourth. Lievens walked. McEwan moved her over with a groundout. Brennan’s singled to put runners on the corners. Sell singled to score Lievens. Blissfield enacted a double steal. The throw to third base was over the Adrian player’s head and Brenna scored, making it 6-2.

In the fourth, Adrian added two unearned runs.

Blissfield cut into the lead in the sixth. Sell reached base on an error. Chelsea Bateson reached on a fielder’s choice. The runners moved to second and third on a throwing error. Kylie Domschot hit and RBI single to score both runners. She took second on the throw to the plate. She eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Jane Pearson. After six, Blissfield trailed 8-5.

The Royals tried to mount a comeback in the seventh. Lievens doubled. Knierim followed with a single. Zoe Brenna singled to score Lievens. Bateson bunted to put Knierim and Brennan at second and third. Domschot laced a shot to right field. Adrian’s right fielder came running in and to her right to make a good catch and end the game.

Brennan finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, run and stolen base. Lievens scored twice. Domschot had 2 RBI and a run scored.