Mentor scored two runs in the bottom of the first and added one in the fifth to beat visiting Cuyahoga Heights on Saturday, 3-0.
The Cardinals made the most of their nine hits against Heights senior pitcher Julia Harris, who fanned six.
“Offense in softball is about being an unselfish player,” said Mentor coach Jo Bondra. “We got our bunts down and moved runners to get them in scoring position and then we were able to get a timely hit or two.”
Bella Carcioppolo tripled to lead off the Mentor first. Adrianna Sluga then singled her home and later scored on Kiley Markowski’s single to make it 2-0.
Sluga tripled to start the Mentor fifth and she scored on an Abby Haydu sacrifice fly.
Sluga finished the game 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored.
“Having Sluga hot at the plate is a key to our success,” Bondra said. “Bella is probably one of the fastest girls in the area, so if we are able to get her on and have Suga get a hit, nine times out of 10 we are scoring a run.”
Sydni Bush also doubled for Mentor and Izzy Coode hit a triple.
Leah Temple took care of the rest.
She allowed just three hits in the complete-game shutout and struck out 11 Heights batters.
“She was keeping the hitters off-balance all day,” Bondra said. “That’s why she was able to be so successful.”
Harris, Tessa Studniarz, and Sierra Wise had hits for Cuyahoga Heights.
Mentor improved to 11-4 while Cuyahoga Heights dropped to 11-2.
