Bushika's Big Effort Helps HV Even Its Record
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — It didn't start off very well but, in the end, Alexis Bushika and the Hoosac Valley softball team did what they needed to do to earn a huge 10-4 road win over Monument Mountain on Tuesday.Trailing 4-2 after the second inning, Bushika shut the Spartans down the rest of the way, and the Hurricanes' offense responded by scoring eight unanswered runs to even Hoosac's record at 9-9 this season. Morgan Shafer's club now looks to be in good shape for making the Western Mass. tournament with a doubleheader against Lenox still left to play on Thursday.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the visitors allowed Monument to get back into the game by giving up three unearned runs over the next two frames. The Hurricanes' defense made three errors over that span, which ultimately led to Alexa Nejaime's two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the second.
Bushika took over from there, however, tossing five scoreless innings to end the game while striking out 12 batters compared to just two walks. She only allowed one earned run on six hits to improve her record to 2-3 this year.
"Alexis pitched a great game," Shafer said. "She worked all of her pitches, and the defense finally stepped it up after the second to really her clinch the win. We didn't make any more errors the rest of the game, which was key to us securing the win."
Hoosac's offense stepped it up in top of the fourth inning, scoring three times to regain the lead at 5-4. Freshman Brie Hayden hit a key two-run triple for the 'Canes, who closed out the frame with a solo home run by sophomore Kassandra Kazimierczak, her team-leading fourth long ball of the year. Classmate Caroline Tomkowicz followed with an RBI triple in the fifth inning, eventually scoring a second run on the play when the Spartans' catcher threw the ball away trying to throw her out at third base.
Hoosac scored three more insurance runs in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of a two-run triple by senior Tanelle Ciempa and and an RBI single by junior Carly Kondel. Bushika led the way for the Hurricanes' offense, going 3 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kondel also had a nice day at the plate, batting 2 for 3 with one RBI and two stolen bases.
Aspen Sawyer took the loss for Monument, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits. Morgan Hammer had a nice day the plate for the Spartans, going 3 for 4 with an RBI double.
Hoosac starts its home doubleheader with Lenox at 3 p.m. on Thursday.