Piedmont High School’s softball team dropped three more games, falling to 2-7-1 on the season. The Highlanders have now lost seven consecutive games.
Piedmont lost to Bishop O’Dowd on April 5, 16-6 in a game shortened to six innings on the mercy rule. The Highlanders actually led 3-1 after the top of the third, but the Dragons then took control.
Miya Fujimoto singled and Leah Bell tripled her in to get Piedmont going in the top of the first. Despite being on third with one out, Bell never got any further.
Morgan Jackson doubled in Priya Kasling to tie the score in the bottom of the first.
Angelina Wu and Fujimoto singled to lead off the third. Morgan Hunt then doubled both of them in for a 3-1 lead. That was the high point of the battle.
An error in the bottom of the inning allowed Bishop O’Dowd to tie the score. Then, Jackson tripled in a run and scored herself on an error.
In the fourth, Riley Veenstra doubled in a run. Kasling then doubled in two. Two more errors led to three more runs, and it was 12-3 by the end of the frame.
Hunt got two back with a triple in the fourth. Sa’Mara Levi scored Hunt on a ground out.
Fujimoto finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Hunt went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Fujimoto went the distance on the mound, allowing seven earned runs in five-plus innings.
The next day, Piedmont lost at home to Encinal, 20-7 in a game also shortened to six innings. The Jets took control of the game with an eight-run second inning. It was 13-1 entering the bottom of the fourth when the Highlanders rallied for six runs.
Piedmont got its run in the bottom of the second on an error. In the fourth, Hunt and Levi were hit by pitches to start the inning and Gretchen Gerhardy singled in one. Hailey Ronen walked and then Caitlin Boothby was hit by a pitch to knock in another. Noa Peltzer and Wu had consecutive walks, driving in a run apiece. Boothby scored on a triple steal and Hunt singled in a run to complete the scoring.
Lola Whalen and Kiely Wong each went 4-for-4 for Encinal. Wong drove in four runs while Whalen knocked in three with two home runs.
Wu started for Piedmont, allowing eight runs (three earned) in two innings. Fujimoto pitched the final four, allowing 12 runs (six earned).
On April 17, Piedmont lost at St. Patrick-St. Vincent, 20-10 in another six-inning game. Each team scored in every inning but the fifth.
Wu walked to lead off the game and Fujimoto tripled her in. Bell singled in Fujimoto and an error brought home Bell.
The Bruins tied it up with three in the bottom of the inning. The Highlanders went back up 4-3 in the second when Mia Leggett doubled in Boothby. But St. Patrick-St. Vincent got five in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good.
Bell finished 3-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI. Hunt was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Gerhardy was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
The Bruins were led by Sophia Hughes, who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Xiara Antonio was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs. Gracie Perry was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Wu again started for Piedmont, going one-plus inning and allowing six runs (two earned). Fujimoto went 4 1/3 innings to finish the game.
Photos by Julie Wu