FRANKLIN, Wis. – The Parkside Rangers opened GLIAC play with a split against Grand Valley State on Saturday at Franklin High School, falling 9-1 in game one before bouncing back behind another complete-game shutout from Casey Jo Vermett to take game two, 2-0.
GAME ONE (GRAND VALLEY 9, PARKSIDE 1):
Grand Valley State grabbed control early in the opener and never let Parkside settle in, using a balanced offensive attack to take a 9-1 win.
The Lakers struck first in the opening inning when Elizabeth Wesoloski launched a solo home run to deep left for a 1-0 lead. Grand Valley then created separation in the third, stringing together four hits and a sacrifice fly to score three more runs. Kylee Hoebeke delivered an RBI single, MaryJane Goodman added a sacrifice fly, and Eliana Eiland pushed an RBI double down the right-field line to push the advantage to 4-0.
The Lakers added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Wesoloski, then broke the game open in the seventh with four more runs. Hoebeke singled in one, Goodman followed with an RBI single through the left side, Jasmine Mauk added a run-scoring single to right, and Brynn Taliercio brought home another with a groundout to make it 9-0.
Parkside broke through in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout. Isabel Aranda singled to short, Reese Valha followed with a single to left, and Maddie Hernandez doubled to center to score Aranda for the Rangers' lone run of the contest.
The Rangers were limited to five hits in game one, with Swain, Taylor Utrata, Aranda, Valha and Hernandez each recording one. Hernandez drove in the only run with her double, while Aranda scored. Parkside struck out 12 times against Grand Valley starter Karli Dorr, who went the distance in the circle.
Holly Lowenberg got the start for Parkside and worked the first three innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out three. Melanie Andrysiak threw the final four innings in relief and struck out two.
Grand Valley finished with 15 hits in the opener, getting three-hit games from Faith Edwards, Wesoloski, Grace Usher and Hoebeke. Wesoloski drove in two runs and homered, while Hoebeke also had two RBI. Eiland added a pair of hits and an RBI, and Goodman knocked in two.
GAME TWO (PARKSIDE 2, GRAND VALLEY 0):
Parkside answered in a big way in game two, riding another dominant outing from Vermett and a pair of solo home runs to a 2-0 shutout win.
Vermett was sharp from the opening inning and worked around early traffic to keep the Lakers off the board. After an error and a walk put two runners on in the first, she escaped the jam with a popout and a groundout. She also stranded a runner at third in the second and worked out of another threat in the fifth before shutting the door late.
The Rangers gave Vermett an early lead in the bottom of the first when Ava Swain crushed a solo home run to deep left, putting Parkside in front 1-0.
That lead doubled in the fourth. Isabel Aranda stepped up and delivered a solo shot to deep center, giving the Rangers a 2-0 cushion.
Those two swings were all the support Vermett needed. The sophomore scattered four hits across seven shutout innings, walked three and struck out eight in another gem. Just days after throwing a no-hitter at Quincy, Vermett followed it up with another complete-game shutout and her fifth win of the season.
Grand Valley's best scoring chance came in the sixth when Eliana Eiland tripled to left center with two outs, but Vermett answered with a strikeout to end the inning and preserve the shutout.
Parkside finished with five hits in game two. Mia Johnson led the way by going 2-for-3 with a double, while Swain and Aranda each homered and drove in a run. Megan Medlin added a single, and Maddie Hernandez reached after being hit by a pitch.
The Rangers also played clean situational softball offensively. CICI Di Silvio dropped down a sacrifice bunt in the third to move Johnson into scoring position, and Parkside made the most of its limited chances against Nevaeh Ingram, who struck out eight in the complete-game loss for Grand Valley.
Parkside is now 1-1 to start GLIAC play and 10-14 overall heading into Sunday's (March 22) doubleheader against Purdue Northwest at Carthage College. First pitch is set for noon CT.
To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
