Julie Janish made a key play in the sixth inning, picking a runner off third base to blunt the Owls' rally.
Brent Baker
Oscoda's Nikki Shugart didn't strike anyone out, but still managed to frustrate the W-P offense for most of Monday's nightcap.

WHITTEMORE-PRESCOTT - Apr. 16, 2007 - Ashleigh Schulte's base hit with two out in the sixth inning scored Theresa Janish from second base on Monday as Whittemore-Prescott's softball team edged Oscoda 3-2 in the second game of an NEMC doubleheader. Janish's no-hitter gave W-P an 8-0 victory in the opener.

The Cards struggled to get the ball out of the infield in the second game as Oscoda's Nikki Shugart held the Cards to just four hits.

"Oscoda played excellent defense," said W-P coach Sam Harrison. "Especially at third and center field. To get on base we had to earn it."

Sharesse King's RBI double in the first and Julie Janish's sacrifice fly in the third staked W-P to a 2-0 lead, but Oscoda tied it in the sixth on Heather Spenceley's fielder's choice and Dana Shugart's RBI double to the fence.

Julie Janish pitched the first 4-2/3 innings for the Cards, but when relieved by her sister Theresa made possibly the key play of the game, running down an Oscoda baserunner that strayed too far off third base in the sixth inning, saving at least one run during the Owls' rally.

Theresa Janish led off the bottom of the sixth, took second after tagging up on a pop fly and scored on Schulte's line drive to left for what proved to be the game-winner.

Theresa Janish pitched the final 1-1/3 innings and earned the win, striking out three and allowing one hit. Julie Janish gave up two hits and one walk while striking out six.

Nikki Shugart allowed four hits and three walks in six innings pitched for the Owls.

"Our pitching was solid," Harrison said. "However, we really need to pick it up in the hitting department. We appear tentative and are taking too many strikes."

In the opener, Theresa Janish was dominant, hurling a no-hitter and walking just one while striking out 15.

The Cards chipped away with single runs in the first, second and fourth innings, scored twice in the third and three times in the sixth.

Kaylon Leslie had three hits, including a triple, scored twice, drove in two runs and stole four bases to pace the W-P offense. Julie Janish added two hits and three RBIs.

The Cards improved to 4-0 (2-0 NEMC) while the Owls were playing their first games of the season.