Butternut-Mercer takes loss at Mellen

The Butternut-Mercer Pioneers softball team lost at Mellen on April 15 during a Northern Lights Conference matchup. Mellen downed the Pioneers 11-1 in 5 innings after an unearned run on a throwing error ended the game with the 10 run rule.

Pioneers pitcher Jersey Polencheck took the loss on the mound, going four complete innings and giving up 8 hits, 6 walks and had 3 strikeouts. Josie Wegner provided relief for 2/3 of an inning, giving up 2 walks with a strikeout.

Polencheck scored a double and Lizzie Pritzl had an RBI single in the effort.

Defensively, the team is improving but there are still too many miscues that are extending innings, said Pioneers Coach Glenn Wegner. Offensively, the team was hitting hard but right at the defense and not in the gaps.

“Mellen played extremely sound defense and just shut us down and they also hit the ball well tonight,” Wegner said.