TITUSVILLE & MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – It may have taken over 24 hours to complete, but Macomb Softball improved to 3-0 on the season with a 3-0 victory over Central Lakes-Brainerd Wednesday (March 9) in a wild, weather-delayed contest. The suspended game began Tuesday at Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville, Fla. and ended early Wednesday afternoon at Mitchell Ellington Park in nearby Merritt Island, Fla.
As it turns out, the weather may have been the only thing that coudl attempt to cool off freshman left-handed pitcher Carly Sierzenga (Macomb, Mich./Dakota). On Tuesday prior to the delay, Sierzena had a perfect game going through six innings pitched as the freshman struck out 14 while retiring every batter she faced. The freshman returned to the circle Wednesday and picked up where she left off striking out the first batter, but an unlucky call at the plate turned what could have been a third strike into an eventual single up the middle as the perfect game/no-hitter was broken up with one out in the seventh inning. Sierzenga would go on to record two straight outs, including another strikeout, to secure the win.
In all, Sierzenga fanned 16 batters (no walks) and only allowed the one hit for her second shutout in as many starts at the collegiate level. The impressive performance kept Sierzenga's ERA at a perfect 0.00 through two games. Through 12 innings pitched, Sierzenga has only allowed five hits and has amassed 25 strikeouts for an impressive 14.58 K/7 ratio.
Getting the win against Brainerd didn't come as easy as Sierzenga made it appear as the Monarchs were also held without a hit for five-plus innings. In the sixth inning, the Monarchs broke through after walks by Sierzenga and Danielle Erickson (Sterling Heights, Mich./Sterling Heights) gave the Blue & White their first runner in scoring position of the game. With two runners on and no outs, Jenna Casey (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) got the Monarchs in the hit column and on the board at the same time with an RBI single to center that plated Sierzenga for a 1-0 lead.
Samantha Scott (Romeo, Mich./Eisenhower) would earn an RBI via a walk with the bases loaded and Nikki Syracuse (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) hit a sac fly to left field for an RBI of her own to give the Monarchs a 3-0 lead in the sixth before the delay-turned-suspension. The three-run sixth was all the offense the Monarchs would generate and it was all they needed as Sierzenga would remain dialed in for the shutout victory.
Through three games played, the Monarchs have outscored the opposition by an eye-popping total of 49-1. In Wednesday's second game against Brainerd, which was also suspended due to inclement weather, the Monarchs finally gave up a few runs but lead 6-3 in the top of the fifth inning.
