Barnum breaks through Carlton pitching

Following last Tuesday's 20 strikeouts, Carlton freshman Abby Mitchell continued her stellar pitching against Barnum two days later, but it wasn't enough to get the Bulldogs the win in a 4-1 game at a field at Chub Lake.

Mitchell recorded her first eight outs via strikeouts Thursday, May 13, but the Bombers parlayed two walks and a single in the first inning to gain a 2-0 edge.

"Our first eight outs were due to striking out, but Mitchell did walk the first two batters of the game and we were able to get them in on a clutch two-out hit from Jess Stevens and a passed ball," said Barnum coach Dustin Collelo. "All season long we have been holding teams to just a few runs a game, so it felt huge to get two runs in the first."

After giving up the two runs, Mitchell struck out the final batter of the inning and then fanned the side in the second and the first two batters in the third inning, but the Bombers added another run in the top half of the fourth inning to go up 3-0.

Barnum pitcher Mendota Castonguay was a tough opponent for the Bulldogs batters as well. Carlton tacked on its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Eliza DeCaigney ripped a triple, and with two outs Kennedy Siiter hit a single up the middle off Castonguay to score DeCaigney, cutting the Barnum lead to 3-1.

"It was another fun game with two good pitchers who have competed with each other in other leagues as well as in the off season," said Carlton coach Brent Pokornowski. "The old saying that leadoff walks will score - well, that's what happened in the first inning."

The Bombers added another run in the top of the fifth when leadoff batter Katelyn Buell laid down a bunt for a single to start the inning and eventually scored for a 4-1 lead.

"We were able to make adjustments as the game moved on to lay off the high pitches," said Collelo. "Their pitcher (Mitchell) was living on pitches around our shoulders early in the game. We talk all the time about how we can't change what happened yesterday or the last play or the last at-bat, we can only be better the next time. I believe the girls are buying into that, and that helps show that resilience."

Buell had an exceptional game by getting on base three times against the Bulldogs.

"Buell is our leadoff hitter," Collelo said. "She is dynamic in that she has speed and power. She got on base three different ways against Carlton with a walk, a bunt, and a hard-hit ball to center."

The bottom of the sixth appeared to be the start of a big inning for Carlton, but a triple play with runners on second and third ended the threat and any chance of a comeback.

"Barnum has a solid squad and we played an OK game with a few things we will adjust as we continue the season," Pokornowski said. "Our mission is to learn the game, develop student athletes while learning fair play and teamwork, and doing so in a positive manner."

Mitchell finished with 12 strikeouts in the game and Castonguay finished with seven.

The win gives Barnum a 10-2 record on the season while the loss drops the Bulldogs record to 4-4.