By By EUGENE L. TINKLEPAUGH, Staff Writer
If there were any running rampant Tuesday it was all Pam Pack defense.
Washington’s softball club shut out conference rivals J.H. Rose 3-0 in their second and final match-up of the regular season. The cool Pack sophomore pitcher Charity Watson threw a no-hitter to grease the wheels of another Washington win, striking out the last five Rampant batters in a row. She struck out 11 batters and walked none.
But Rose pitcher Amy Godley didn’t make it easy for the Pack. Godley struck out three and allowed seven hits.
Washington’s (11-1, 9-1) first score came from a Rampant error in the second inning. The Pam Pack’s final run was thanks to a triple by Watson in the fifth. Her right field smack brought in Taylor Rodgers.
Pack coach Emily Pake said the win went to the defense.
Washington catcher Rodgers made two catches off popped up bunts early in the game, and second baseman Kayla Spain scrambled to get under a couple slapped bunts in the middle innings. Third baseman Marrissa Fucito made a great play in the fifth inning, fielding a fast grounder and zipping the ball to first before the Rampants’ Katie Houmard could find the bag.
The Rampant defense momentarily broke down in the second inning. One error set up two runs for the Pam Pack to take a 2-0 lead.
Fucito opened the Pam Pack’s second at bat by singling with a grounder down the middle. She safely stole second with a hard slide to beat the defense on a down and dirty play. Fucito then made it home when Rose pitcher overthrew first baseman Kenly Simmons in an attempt to stop Pam Pack batter Spain from getting on base.
The second score of the inning was batted in by Amber Alligood. Her single brought in Halley Stowe, who walked to first and made it to third off the pitcher’s fielding error.
Rose successfully stopped scoring opportunities for Washington later in the second inning when the Pack had the bases loaded up, and in the third with Rodgers and Fucito in scoring positions.
Washington plays at New Bern Friday at 6:30 following the JV girls game.
Washington’s JV girls beat J.H. Rose 11-0 in five innings. Winning pitcher Sam Barber threw two strike outs. The team made one error in the win, bringing its record to 10-2. Leading hitters for the Pam Pack were B. Moss 3-4, C. Jones 2-3, S. Mayo 2-2 and S. Mayer 2-3.
J.H. Rose 000 000 0 — 0 3 0
Washington 020 010 0 — 2 7 0
WP: Charity Watson; LP: Amy Godley
Hitters: W — Samantha Mobley 1-3, Meredith Duke 1-4, Taylor Rogers 1-3 (run), Marrissa Fucito 1-3 (run), Charity Watson 1-3 (RBI, 3B) Amber Alligood 1-3 (RBI), Davey Ann Burbage 1-3.