ALPENA, Mich. – Macomb Softball's nine-game winning streak came to an end Friday (April 29) after suffering a narrow 4-3 setback in the nightcap at Alpena Community College. Before the loss, the Monarchs won game one by an 8-5 final to earn a split on the day. With the split, the Monarchs record shifts to 18-8 in the MCCAA East and 21-10 overall.
GAME ONE: Macomb 8, Alpena 5
The Monarchs ran their season-best winning streak up to nine games, doing so behind a three-run seventh inning that turned a 5-5 tie into the 8-5 triumph. The game one victory did not come easily as the Monarchs had to battle back from two separate deficits, including an early 2-0 hole after one inning of play.
After the Monarchs scored one in the second to cut the Lumberjacks lead in half at 2-1, a Jenna Casey (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) solo home run – her sixth of the season – tied the game in the third and sparked a three-run inning that gave the Blue & White a 4-2 lead. The two-run advantage didn't last for long as the Lumberjacks posted three runs in the home half of the third to jump in front, 5-4.
The Monarchs knotted it up at 5-5 two innings later when Skye Norris (Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay) drove a double to right field that plated Elizabeth Townsend (Ira Twp., Mich./Anchor Bay). Then in the seventh, Emma Lautenbach (Warren, Mich./Center Line) hit a sacrifice fly that scored Nikki Syracuse (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) to push the Monarchs in front at 6-5. Lautenbach's RBI sac fly would stand as the game-winning hit and Nicole Husken (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) provided the insurance runs one batter later with a two-RBI double to left that scored Natalie Lerchenfeld (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) and Lautenbach.
Carly Sierzenga (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) stepped into the circle in relief in the third inning and was locked in from the first pitch. The freshman left-hander shut down the host Lumberjacks, striking out three while only allowing three hits over four and a third innings pitched. The strong relief outing helped Sierzenga pick up her MCCAA Eastern Conference leading 12th win of the campaign.
Norris led all Monarchs with a perfect 4-for-4 performance that included a double and two RBIs, and Syracuse followed with three hits in four at-bats to go along with a double and two runs scored. Casey and Townsend each had two hits to round out some of the top performers for the Monarchs in game one.
GAME TWO: Alpena 4, Macomb 3
The Monarchs were able to put the runners on but couldn't capitalize on their opportunities in the narrow 4-3 defeat. Skye Norris got the start and tossed five solid innings while striking out five. At the plate, Norris added to her 4-for-4 game one with a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI and a run scored in game two.
Elizabeth Townsend continued her phenomenal week with two more hits in the nightcap, while Natalie Lerchenfeld recorded the team's lone extra-base hit with a fourth inning RBI double to left.
