VERGENNES — The Middlebury Union High School softball team on Friday cruised to a 38-1, five-inning victory over shorthanded Vergennes, a result that evened the Tigers’ record at 1-1 and dropped the Commodores to 0-2.
The Tigers knocked out eight hits off losing pitcher Ema Gernander, including three by Ashley Sunderland, a homer by Kyra Roberts, and a double by winning pitcher Bridget Audet. Audet struck out nine and allowed four hits and one walk.
Gernander struck out five, but had difficulty with her control and the Commodores struggled in the field as the Tigers scored 14 runs in the second inning and 20 in the third.
VUHS Coach Mike Martin said the Commodores were missing starters who were away on a school trip. Senior shortstop Megan Tarte’s first-inning home run, the first of her career, provided the VUHS scoring. Gernander doubled and Sarah Rathbun and Sky Thayer singled for the Commodores.
Leadoff hitter Gwen Stafford scored seven times for MUHS, and Carly Larocque and Abby LaRock crossed the plate six times apiece.
VERGENNES SENIOR MEGAN Tarte gets a hand from Coach Mike Martin as she rounds the bases after a first-inning homer — her first ever — in the Commodores’ home game vs. MUHS on Friday. Photo by Steve James
The Tigers were coming off a 16-1 loss on Thursday to Division I title contender Essex, which reached double digits in runs for the second time in two days. Sarah Knickerbocker led the Hornets with four hits and four RBIs, and winning pitcher Caitlyn Toth fanned nine Tigers in the five-inning contest.
The Commodores were coming off a 30-6 four-inning loss to visiting Champlain Valley on Thursday. Martin said he conceded the result rather than ask for a suspension even though the game did not reach the legal five innings.
VUHS took advantage of CVU starting pitcher Riley Canty’s nine walks in three innings to score its runs. Maria Malaney had the only VUHS hit, and Gernander took the loss. Kristy Carlson led the Redhawks with three hits.