Marysville left fielder Ella Wood can’t reach the ball that falls in for a hit during a 6-0 setback at the hands of Pickerington North.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Marysville’s softball team was lacking Friday evening when it hosted Pickerington North.
The Lady Monarchs lacked much in the way of an offensive attack and played about the same way on defense during a 6-0 loss.
North pitchers Emily Howe and Allison Mickey limited Marysville (16-9) to just one hit.
It was the most anemic offensive showing since MHS suffered a no-hit loss during its spring break trip to Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
The defense also had its problems as four fielding miscues went on the board.
“Both of our pitchers (starter Brooklyn Gamby and reliever Josie Bumgarner) – didn’t throw badly,” said Lady Monarch head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell. “However, neither one is what you would call a big strikeout pitcher.
“With that being the case, they need to get support from our offense and defense,” said the coach.
Gamby ran into a bit of trouble during the visitors’ portion of the opening inning.
An MHS error was sandwiched between a pair of base hits that produced a 2-0 lead for the visitors.
Gamby didn’t have a great deal of trouble putting Pickerington North down through the next five innings.
North stranded three base runners during that time as Gamby was able to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.
Unfortunately, neither Howe nor Mickley had too many difficulties against the Lady Monarch batting order.
A couple of walks and a fielder’s choice represented MHS’ lone base runner through five frames.
Marysville’s lone hit came off Mickley in the home half of the sixth when Maya Segner singled with two down.
Segner stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
She was, however, left on third when a flyball went for the third out.
Pickerington North got back into its offensive groove in the top of the seventh.
A total of three hits, a fielder’s choice and another fielding miscue put four runs on the scoreboard.
Gamby, who was relieved by Bumgarner before she could record an out, saw three of those runs go on her ledger.
Gamby fanned four, walked two and yielded five of North’s eight hits before giving way to Bumgarner.
North stranded two runners, but held a 6-0 margin by the time the top of the inning concluded.
Marysville got another runner on base in the bottom of the seventh.
Camryn Harbold reached on an error.
She went to second on a fielder’s choice, but a line drive resulted in a double play that ended the contest.
“We’re not seeing the ball very well right now, but we’ll get it back together,” said Segner-Maxwell.
“We also have to make the routine plays on defense,” she said. “We’re getting ahead of ourselves and rushing things.”
The setback was the second in the last three games for the Lady Monarchs.
Earlier in the week, MHS beat Columbus Bishop Hartley 18-1 and fell 2-1 in extra innings to Olentangy Orange.
“Sometimes, you need to lose a couple of games to get things right again,” said Segner-Maxwell.
The Marysville JV softball team played its final game of the season at home against Pickerington North.
The Jr. Monarchs claimed a 10-0 victory.
Kylie Levings earned the win as she allowed two hits and fanned five.
The offense was led by Abigail Bryant and Addison Altizer, each with a pair of hits.
The Lady Monarchs finished with a record of 21-3.
They claimed the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division championship.
PN 200 000 4-6 8 1
MHS 000 000 0-0 1 4
WP: Howe
LP: Gamby