The Perry bats came through when they were most needed Thursday, helping send the hosts to a 5-2 win over visiting Saydel in non-conference softball.
Perry (5-12) scored twice in the bottom of the second. Katelyn Whelchel was on base thanks to an Eagle error, with a Sidney Vancil double putting runners on second and third. Both scored when Maddie West produced a clutch two-run single.
Emma Olejniczak was cruising along in the ring for the hosts and, were it not for a Perry error, would have had a perfect game through five innings. Liz Miklus — who had made a spectacular running catch in the outfield — broke up the no-hitter with a solo home run to cut the Eagle deficit in half.
The Jayettes answered in their half of the sixth when Whelchel walked, moved up a base on a Vancil sacrifice, then scored on another West base hit. Johanna Diw capped the rally with a long two-run home run, her third round-tripper of the season.
Saydel scored an unearned run in the seventh, but it was not enough to catch their hosts.
Olejniczak scattered two hits while striking out eight in collecting the win.
Perry will play twice Friday and twice Saturday in their annual trip to Roland for the two-day Roland-Story Classic. Perry faces AGWSR at 3 p.m. and Gilbert at 5 p.m. Friday before battling Nevada at 2:30 p.m. and Roland-Story at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
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PERRY 5, SAYDEL 2
at PAC, June 18
Team R H E
SAY 000 001 1 — 2 2 2
PRY 020 003 x — 5 9 2
PRY: Olejniczak and Huntington. WP: Olejniczak (5-11). 2B — PRY: Vancil HR — SAY: Miklus, PRY: Diw (3).
Video highlights courtesy of PEGASUS-TV12 and volunteer Doug Wood. Check www.pegasustv12.com for air times of complete game.
