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Coldwater's Audrey Diller, left, slides under the tag of Fort Recovery's Mara Wendel at third base.
COLDWATER - In her team's matchup against Coldwater Thursday night, Fort Recovery's Alexis Grisez was outstanding. She struck out 10, gave up just four hits and did not give up a run until the eighth inning.
Coldwater's Harlow Heyne was just a touch better.
The sophomore gave up just one hit and had nine strikeouts to lead the Cavs (7-7) in a 1-0 extra inning win as they stayed perfect in Midwest Athletic Conference play.
"Harlow threw an amazing game, probably the best pitching performance I have seen as a coach," Cavaliers' coach Kyle Ahrens said. "She did a fantastic job and keeps giving us a chance to win."
Both starters set the tone early. Heyne got two strikeouts in the first frame, and she eventually got Grisez to swing through strike three to end a scoreless second. Grisez also picked up a pair of strikeouts in the first, including catching Heyne looking to end the home half.
Coldwater's Harlow Heyne (8) gave up just one hit against Fort Recovery Thursday evening.
The Cavs got two runners on in the bottom of the second, but a ground ball off Alivia Klingshirn's bat ended the threat. Heyne worked another 1-2-3 inning in the third on just eight pitches to bring the Coldwater bats back up.
Chloe Frysinger's one-out single was the only hit of the fourth inning. Coldwater eventually got two on with two outs, and a threat loomed. Grisez buckled down however, and got a swing and a miss from Ava Doll to end the third inning with no runs coming across.
Coldwater had just two hits and left four on base through the first four innings, while Fort Recovery's batting line was filled with zeros.
Hart put one in the hit column with one-out in the fifth, and the Indians (1-16) finally had a scoring opportunity. Heyne kept Hart on second and picked up a strikeout as the inning ended with no runs.
It was in the sixth inning when Coldwater had their chance to take the lead after Heyne was hit to put the leadoff hitter on base. A bunt moved her to second, and Hailey Stough tried to do the same.
Stough's bunt trickled to third, where Mara Wendel's throw to first was in time as Heyne rounded third. The attempt was cut down when Malia Grisez's throw from first was fired to home, where Hart easily applied the tag on Heyne. It was a 5-3-2 double play, and it ended the final real threat of the regulation innings.
The eighth inning came, and Fort Recovery's bats went quietly. It gave Coldwater a chance at the walk off with the top of the order due up.
Frysinger's one-out single got the rally started. Charlotte Hoying looked to hit a double-play ball, but a low throw at second kept both runners on base. Heyne walked to load the bases, and it was up to Doll.
The senior laid her bunt down perfectly toward third, allowing Frysinger to sprint home to score the winning run. It was not the perfect offensive game from Coldwater, but it was just enough.
"Every league game is a dogfight," Ahrens said. "It doesn't matter what anybody's record is, and Fort Recovery played a whale of a game so hats off to them. We executed in the eighth and found a way to get it done."
Fort Recovery's Alexis Grisez throws a pitch against Coldwater.
Alexis Grisez took the loss, but should not be without confidence as the Indians enter the home stretch of the season. They will look to turn it around against Versailles on the road next Thursday at 5 p.m.
"She should be very proud of herself tonight," Indian's coach Alyssa Lewis said of Grisez. "I know I'm proud of her."
The Cavs will try to defend home field later today against Hicksville at 5:30 p.m.
