EASTHAMPTON — The Mahar softball team had a chance to tie the game in the seventh inning, but came up short in a 5-3 loss to Easthampton, Tuesday afternoon.
With Sarah Graeff on first base, Skylar Dodge, who returned to the lineup for Tuesday’s game, doubled off the left field fence to put runners on second and third. However, the Senators grounded out to end the game.
“Much, much better turnout from the girls,” said Mahar coach Jerry Duguay, whose team defeated Putnam 8-7 on Monday. “I was very happy with their output.”
Easthampton scored one run in the second and four in the fourth to go up 5-0. In the top of the fifth, Dodge hit a three-run home run over the center field fence to pull Mahar (1-2) within 5-3.
Dodge went 3-for-3 with a double, a single, one home run and one walk. She played left field as well and had several putouts.
“You can see why we missed her,” said Duguay.
The Senators loaded the bases in the first inning, but were unable to score a run.
Megan Rich pitched all six innings and allowed five runs on 11 hits and two walks, while striking out four. She also went 1-for-4 with one run.
Graeff went 2-for-4 with one run, while Jordan Fournier went 1-for-4 and Alexis Mainville-Schaefer 1-for-3. Mainville-Schaefer played her second consecutive game behind the plate and Duguay said she has done well so far in the role.
The Senators enter a stretch where they will lose five starters due to a class trip. They will lose 4/5 of their infield, retaining only eighth-grader Juliana Herbert at first base.
“Once you finally piece something together even though it was a loss, the school trip really puts a wrench in things,” said Duguay.
The team will practice Wednesday and will “basically be starting from scratch,” according to Duguay, who will have one practice to pick which junior varsity and middle school players to add for Thursday’s game against Holyoke.
The five starters will return at the end of April vacation. In addition to Thursday’s game, they will miss Monday’s game against South Hadley as well.
Mahar lost 17-0 to Easthampton on Tuesday afternoon. Despite the loss, coach Jim Cleveland remained happy with his team’s performance, striking out only five times against what he described as a tough pitcher. The team also threw runners out at second, third and home. Eighth-grader Haylee Allen pitched in her first JV game and struck out one. Jazmine Vezina had the team’s only hit.