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Errors doom Eagles against Patriots
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The Eastside Eagles varsity softball team dropped a 4-0 decision to Heritage Wednesday night on the road, recording just one hit in the shutout loss to the Patriots.

Heritage pitcher Kamryn Toney carried her no-hit bid into the fifth inning before the Eagles’ Haley Yates secured Eastside's lone hit in the loss.

Despite putting the ball in play throughout the contest, and threatening in the fifth inning with a pair of runners on base with two outs, the Eagles were never able to muster enough offense to halt Toney's impressive display on the mound.

"Heritage is one of the best teams we have played all year," Eastside coach Jason Stokes said. "Their defense is super solid. Their pitching staff is one of the best we've seen.

"Despite that, we put the ball in play, a lot," he said. "There weren't many (strikeouts) out there. I'm not disappointed in the way we hit, but we have to continue to work on our fielding and communication. We got behind early because of defensive miscues and against a pitcher like that, you can't do that."

The Eagles' defense let them down early in the first inning. Heritage's Diamond Callwood reached first on a bunt before stealing second, giving the Patriots' a runner in scoring position. Callwood reached home just a few pitches later while trying to steal third, as the Eagles' throw down sailed past the third baseline and into the outfield, allowing Callwood to touch home for a 1-0 Heritage lead.

The Eagles kept the Patriots off the scoreboard after their early run until the fourth inning when another Eastside throwing error cost the Eagles a run.

Carri Wilkerson touched home after reaching on a single, crossing the plate after the Eagles tried to get Toney out at second on Heritage's second base knock of the inning. Toney reached second safely after the Eagles' throw missed its mark, allowing Wilkerson to give the Patriots a 2-0 advantage.

Eastside threatened the Patriots' lead in the top of the fifth inning, as Yates broke up Toney's no-hit bid with a 1-out single.

Yates reached second after toney walked Eastside second baseman Madison Whitsitt, but the Eagles were unable to get a run across the plate with two outs.

Heritage added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Wilkerson from third on another Eastside throwing error before scoring Taylor Moser on a Heidi Shepherd squeeze bunt.

Cati Ray earned the loss on the mound for the Eagles, allowing eight hits and a walk while striking out six Patriots.

Toney finished with one hit, five strike outs and one walk in the win.

Yates finished 1-for-3 at the plate to lead the Eagles.

Shepherd paced the Patriots at the dish with a 2-for-2 performance with a pair of singles, while Wilkerson went 2-for-3 at the plate.

The Eagles return to action on Oct. 1 against Lanier in regional playoff action. Eastside will play a doubleheader in the opening contest against Lanier.