Westlake pulls away early, hands Bay Softball an 18-2 loss

Westlake seized control in the opening inning and never let Bay back within reach, defeating the Rockets 18-2 on Thursday at Bay High School.

The decisive stretch came immediately. Westlake scored five runs in the top of the first inning, with Maddie Moden singling home two runs, Marissa Horvath adding an RBI single, Lindsey Horvath driving in another run with a single, and Marissa Horvath later scoring after tagging up. That early burst put Bay in catch-up mode from the outset.

Westlake kept adding on in the second and third innings. Riley Knapp homered to center in the second, Moden tripled down the right-field line to bring home a run, and Horvath doubled to center for another RBI. In the third, Trudy Rocco singled in a run before Moden connected on a two-run homer to right, stretching the Demons' lead even further.

Bay managed to collect seven hits against winning pitcher Cydney Loucka, who worked all five innings. Loucka allowed two runs, struck out four and walked two. Elizabeth Steele provided Bay's biggest offensive contribution, driving in both Rockets runs from the No. 7 spot in the order while going 1-for-2. Ella Taulbee, Maeve McFarland, Julia Mavis, Lizzie McFarland, Lucy Corbett, Olivia Stehlik and Steele each had one hit for Bay.

Corbett took the loss for the Rockets, pitching five innings against a relentless Westlake lineup that finished with 18 hits and drew nine walks. Knapp was one of the game's biggest standouts, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, four runs scored and five RBIs. Moden went 5-for-5, while Rocco, Marissa Horvath, Kylie Colacarro and Lindsey Horvath each had multiple hits. Knapp also stole two bases as Westlake continued to pressure Bay throughout the afternoon.

One bright spot for Bay came on defense. The Rockets did not commit an error, and Julia Mavis led the club with five fielding chances. Westlake also played a clean game defensively and turned two double plays. The Demons put the game away with a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by Colacarro's RBI single, an RBI walk to Isabel Mueller, another run on a tag-up by Horvath and Knapp's three-run homer to center. Bay will look to bounce back Monday at Lakewood.