By Nicholas Huenefeld

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

PEMBERVILLE — Karly Wasserman’s two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning helped propel the Eastwood softball team to a 4-1 win over Lake at home on Friday.

With the victory, the defending Northern Buckeye Conference champions stayed two games back of first place Oak Harbor.

“Wasserman had a big two-out hit,” Eastwood coach Joe Wyant said. “She did a nice job, and she’s been really good of late. Karly’s moved all the way up to the two-spot and has the third-best batting average on the team.

“She also plays a really nice, solid second base. She’s always been an outfielder, and she’s getting a hang of it finally.”

The opportunistic Eagles (13-7, 7-3 NBC) took advantage of two Lake errors in a three-run fourth. The first error, a Cynthea Cassdorph single and a Makayla Hady walk helped load the bases with two outs.

The second error then plated the first run of the frame on a hard ground ball from Adyson Bowe. Wasserman followed with the key hit on a ground ball up the middle.

“I don’t think we were very crisp defensively,” Lake coach Dave Rymers said. “We had some errors that really put us in a bind.”

Kali Bedford took the tough loss for the Flyers (8-11, 3-6 NBC) as the righty struck out three while going the distance. Only one of her four runs allowed was earned.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Cassi Kieper was dominant in the circle for the Eagles. The senior retired the first nine and final seven batters she faced while allowing just one hit and striking out eight.

“I thought we pitched well,” Rymers said. “Kali threw well. We didn’t help her out tremendously behind her. We also have to do a better job with the sticks. I know Cassi is a fantastic pitcher, but we have to have better approaches on the box.”

The lone hit allowed came on a two-out RBI double from Lake’s third baseman, Sophia Gruetter, in the fourth. The hit tied the game at one apiece at the time and scored Ellie Rymers, who walked with one out in the inning.

“I thought both pitchers were very solid on both sides,” Wyant said.

Kieper, who struck out 12 while allowing zero hits and walks in a 19-0 win over Rossford on Thursday, allowed just four baserunners all game against Lake and two of them came via errors.

“She pitched really good last night, and today she had eight strikeouts against a pretty solid hitting team,” Wyant said.

Eastwood initially took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Lilly Escobedo RBI groundout after back-to-back singles from Rowe and Wasserman.

Wasserman finished 2-for-3 with two knocked in to lead Eastwood. Bowe, who had two stolen bases, also had a two-hit performance out of the leadoff spot.