ARENAC EASTERN - April 14, 2005 - Whittemore-Prescott stayed unbeaten Thursday with a 7-3 and 12-5 sweep of Arenac Eastern's softball squad. While the wind wreaked havoc with what otherwise might have been routine defensive plays,

"We were a little sloppy on defense," W-P coach Sam Harrison said. "I am concerned that we gave up eight runs (in two games) on only five hits.

"We looked better the last three innings.

AE coach Mike Vogl was a bit happier with his team's defense, despite giving up a number of unearned runs (including eight in the first game).

"Despite the fielding problems, I thought we played rather well," he said. "We knew what plays to make in both the third and fourth innings (of the first game) -- we just didn't make them. Better throws and concentration will help in that regard in the future."

In the pivotal innings of the first game, W-P put four runs on the board with the aid of four AE errors. Kaylon Leslie's deep fly ball was dropped to drive in Julie Janish from first, and when the throw home to try to get Janish popped free in a cloud of dust, Leslie came speeding home for the second run of the inning and a 3-1 W-P lead.

The Eagles came back to tie the game on an RBI groundout from Erin Card and Nicole Daniels' run-scoring single, but the Cards took the lead for good in the fourth on Katie Degesie's RBI single and a run-scoring error on Julie Janish's batted ball.

Sarah Leslie's run-scoring double and Melissa Perrin's RBI single in the fifth capped the scoring.

Theresa Janish picked up the win, striking out nine and walking two while allowing just three hits. Krista Tacey absorbed the loss, giving up one earned run while striking out 12 and walking three.

In the second game, the Cards broke open a close game by scoring six runs in the final two innings as Tacey began to tire.

"The last six runs were a result of having a high pitch count," Vogl said, noting Tacey threw 200 pitches in the doubleheader.

Leslie had five hits, including a two-run homer in the sixth, and drove in four runs. Kelli Barriger had four hits including a double, scored three times and was the winning pitcher, allowing two hits and four walks and no earned runs.

W-P improved to 8-0, while the Eagles dropped to 2-2.