WESTHAMPTON – Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday, the Hampshire Regional softball team wasn’t panicking against opponent Wachusett. 

Teaghan Charles calmly led off the inning, knocking a grounder into left field to get on first base. Though she was thrown out on the next play, Raegan Dubay and Emma Czarniecki both reached base, bringing the tying run to the plate.

But Wachusett pitcher Shayna Bakun stayed cool in the circle, striking out the next two batters and leaving the pair of Hampshire runners stranded in the 3-0 defeat.

It was the Raiders’ second consecutive loss after dropping a 10-6 decision to Pittsfield earlier in the week. 

“We played very well and Joss (Mettey) pitched a great game. Our bats kind of fell asleep, and they have been for the last two games,” Hampshire head coach Brian McGan said. “But they're capable of turning it around and getting it going again. It's early in the season, and we just gotta just try to get back on track.” 

Ashley Cortis got on base twice, once via an error and once on a walk, Mettey singled and CC Thayer hit a double for the Raiders.

Mettey threw all seven innings, striking out six and walking none in the loss. Bakun also threw all seven innings for Wachusett, which made it to the semifinals of last year’s MIAA Division 1 tournament.

The Raiders (5-2) finished the game with six hits, but couldn’t get their bats going until the fourth inning, and didn’t have more than one hit in an inning until the bottom of the seventh. 

“[Bakun] was definitely a solid pitcher. I think we weren't aggressive enough today,” Czarniecki said. “But I think we'll learn from today and move on to the next one.” 

Wachusett (7-0) took the lead in the second inning when the back half of its lineup found holes in the Raiders’ defense. Isabella Ciaquinto singled and moved over to second when Amanda Roche drilled a ball to center field to get on first. With two runners on, Isabel Moreno unleashed a bomb that got her to second and scored both Ciaquinto and Roche, giving Wachusett a 2-0 lead after the first two innings. 

Tiegan Walsh scored the Mountaineers’ third run in the top of the sixth inning, smacking a double to get on base and scampering home on teammate McKenzie Caron’s hit. 

Despite the loss, the experience is what matters for the perennial powerhouse Raiders. Hampshire scheduled the game against Wachusett because it knew it would be a good test earlier in the season, something McGan said his club can learn and grow from as the season goes on. 

“Like I said, it’s early. So these games are great tests, and these games are for the end, it's not for now,” McGan said. “We lose a few games here and there, it's OK. You don't want to lose them in the end, so that's what we're battling for.”

Hannah Bevis can be reached at hbevis@gazettenet.com. Follow her on Twitter @Hannah_Bevis1.]]>