One big swing from Ella Berfanger was all McKinley Ermshar needed.
Ermshar’s brilliant pitching made Berfanger’s solo home run enough for Union softball to knock off Battle Ground 1-0 on Wednesday.
Ermshar struck out nine over seven innings, allowing only a single to Kristine Brigance and two walks. She shut down a Battle Ground team that placed third in last year’s Class 4A state tournament and entered Wednesday averaging 8.7 runs per game.
Berfanger’s home run in with two outs in the fourth inning was the only blemish on Rylee Rehbein’s pitching performance. The senior had 11 strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.
Battle Ground had the makings of a rally in the top of the seventh when Candice Adams and Brigance both drew walks with one out. But Ermshar got a shallow fly ball that Kayla Brusseau tracked down then doubled-up a Battle Ground baserunner to end the game.
The win improves Union to 2-1 in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League, one game behind undefeated Skyview.
Battle Ground fell to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in league play.
Stars of the day
- Layla Royle, Skyview softball, went 2 for 3 with a double and five RBI in a 10-3 win over Camas as the Storm improved to 7-0.
- Kadence Burleson, Evergreen softball, went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer in the first inning of a 3-1 win over Prairie, making the Plainsmen the last 3A GSHL team unbeaten in league play.
- Loreli Medina Cardinas, Heritage softball, went 3 for 3 with a grand slam, a double and five RBI in a 13-2 win over Mountain View.
- Madison Walker, Ridgefield softball, went 3 for 4 to spearhead a 13-hit attack as the Spudders improved to 5-0 with an 11-3 win over Mark Morris.
- Lexi Grumbois, Kelso softball, went 4 for 5 with three runs scored and a two-run homer in a 10-7 win over Woodland.
- Charlie Varney, Hockinson softball, went 2 for 4 with a double, triple and two RBI in a 9-1 win over Hudson’s Bay.
- Cole Carsten, Battle Ground baseball, went 1 for 3 with a double and two RBI in a 5-2 win over Evergreen.
- Stephen Hammergren, Mark Morris baseball, pitched a complete game, allowing five hits, one run, one walk and striking out 10 in a 9-1 win over Columbia River.
- Jarod Oldham, Hockinson baseball, pitched a complete game, striking out nine and allowing four hits, in a 4-2 win over Washougal.
- Colton Warren, Ridgefield baseball, went 2 for 4 with five RBI and a double in a 16-0 win over Fort Vancouver.
