Facing off against Wawasee in a local matchup on Friday afternoon, the Manchester softball team’s offense started off strong and never wavered. The team scored runs in each of the six innings played en route to a 13-3 victory.
Manchester starting pitcher Molly Schannep struggled with her command in the windy conditions as the top of the first got going, hitting three batters in the opening frame. The Lady Warriors would take advantage of the free passes to first, as MariJo Bongtrager came through with a double to center field that scored two runs and put the visitors on the board.
The home team didn’t trail for long. Ava Sautter led off the bottom of the first with a single and eventually came around to score on an error by the Wawasee infield. A few batters later, with runners on second and third, Saydah Burke got a hold of one and sent it down the third base line to score two more runs on a double. After an exciting first inning, the Lady Squires led 3-2.
After giving up a leadoff walk to begin the second, Schannep was able to settle in. She’d get the next three hitters out and turn it over to her offense after a scoreless frame. Karsyn Kamphues began the bottom of the second with a double, but got thrown out trying to extend it to a triple. That didn’t stop Manchester from putting two more runs on the board, though. After drawing a two-out walk, Allie Egolf came around to score on an error that also put Sautter on base. Sautter would score herself on a single by Alexis Jarrett that made it 5-2.
Schannep remained in a groove after retaking the circle, retiring all three hitters she faced in the top of the third with ground outs to keep the momentum in favor of the home team. The Lady Squires began the bottom of the third with four straight singles, and the latter two by Mya Metzger and Kamphues resulting in runs being scored. Schannep would help herself out with an RBI groundout, and Sautter stayed busy with an RBI double to make it another big inning for the home side.

    Freshman MariJo Bontrager drives in Wawasee's first two runs of the game during the first inning...Nieter

Schannep’s streak of hitters retired ended at eight on a single by Melissa Bontrager, but that was the only damage done in the inning. The Manchester hurler’s third straight scoreless frame kept things at 9-2. A triple by Hadley West with one out in the bottom half of the fourth turned into a run as Burke brought her home. Kamphues picked up her second RBI of the game by driving in Burke, resulting in another two-run inning for the home side.
Wawasee was finally able to get back on the board in the top of the fifth. After drawing a walk to begin the inning, Kirra Alvarez stole second and third and eventually scored on a two-out error. Even after the run, the Lady Warriors had plenty of work to do. To make matters worse for the visitors, the home side got that run right back as Egolf scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a walk.
After another 1-2-3 inning for Schannep, the Lady Squire offense needed just one run to end the game an inning early. They’d get it. A pair of walks put Metzger on second base, and she’d come home on a ground ball up the middle by none other than Schannep to finish things off.
Manchester (4-3) is at Fremont on Saturday for a doubleheader, while Wawasee (0-6) hosts Triton.