SYRACUSE - Wawasee did what it had to do in its 2-0 loss to Warsaw in Northern Lakes Conference softball action.
The Warriors played solid defensively, got a gritty performance from pitcher Catie Hapner and managed a couple of hits against Warsaw's Kelcy Martin.
Warsaw, on the other hand, had some baserunning gaffes and struggled with the bats.
It took Martin at the plate rather than the mound for Warsaw to finally get on the board.
Tera Clark roped a double to right field to start the top of the fifth inning for Warsaw with the score knotted at 0-0.
After a Kelcy Freds groundout and a Heather Shepherd fly out, Martin connected on a single that plated Clark and gave Warsaw a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added insurance in the sixth inning when Alli Reichard sent a Hapner pitch over the right center field fence at the softball diamond on the campus of Wawasee High School.
"Those were the two big plays right there," said Warsaw coach Tanya Kempton. "Martin's RBI single and Alli Reichard's home run were huge."
Martin helped her own cause with the bat but did most of her damage on the mound.
Martin, a junior who pitched a perfect game earlier this year, struggled a bit with location but struck out 12 Wawasee batters and gave up just two hits on the evening, both by Warrior sophomore Taylor Goshert.
"We battled tonight," said Wawasee coach Cory Schutz. "We're not going to see speed like (Martin's) unless we make it past sectionals.
Martin pitched a complete game, going seven innings. She allowed just the two hits to Goshert and, despite some control issues, didn't issue a walk.
Martin's counterpart, Hapner, pitched a solid game, albeit a vastly different game than Martin's.
While Martin dominated with overwhelming speed, Hapner used location and her defense to keep Wawasee in the game.
Hapner pitched a complete game as well going seven innings and allowing two earned runs. Hapner allowed nine hits, two walks and struck out two.
Wawasee threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning when Goshert led off with a single. After Angie Beer struck out, Amber Timmons advanced on an error that put Goshert at third base with one out. Timmons advanced later in the inning on a stolen base.
Both Kayln Lantz and Ashley Sharp struck out with two runners in scoring position to keep the score knotted at 0-0 before Martin's RBI single.
Warsaw had a chance earlier in the game to get on the board but a communication breakdown kept the game scoreless.
Reichard walked to start the second inning, then advanced on a passed ball. Reichard then advanced to third after Kacie Conley advanced on a pop-up bunt that managed to land without being caught by a Warrior infielder.
Carlie Snider then tried to lay down a sac bunt that rolled hard down the third base line. Reichard came off the bag quickly and, as Wawasee's Sharp fielded the ball she decided not to throw to first and draw Reichard into a run down. Reichard was eventually tagged out.
"We definitely didn't play our game tonight," said Kempton. "We had some baserunning and communication errors. Hopefully that doesn't happen (today)."
Warsaw, 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the NLC, hosts Northridge today at the City-County Athletic Complex at 5 p.m.
Wawasee, 4-8 overall and 2-5 in the NLC, hosts Elkhart Memorial Friday at 5 p.m.
