Six Tumwater players drove in runs during a five-run fifth inning and Tumwater handed Rochester a 12-6 loss in 2A Evergreen Conference play Friday in Rochester.
The Warriors had the hits to stay in it — 11 total to the Thunderbirds’ 14 — but the fifth-inning collapse proved too costly to overcome.
The first-four hitters in Rochester’s lineup all put up multi-hit performances. Macey Fluetsch was 2 for 3 with a run, Jessa Lenzi went 2 for 3 with two runs, Layna Demers was 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI and Lakota Escott finished 3 for 4 with a double and four RBIs.
Escott tossed 4 ⅓ innings on the mound, giving up 11 runs on 11 hits and six walks with three strikeouts. Sadie Knutson threw the final 2 ⅔ innings, striking out two while surrendering one run on three hits and a walk.
Tumwater, meanwhile, also had four players with multiple hits. Megan Paull led the way, going 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Scout Abbott was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, Emily Robello 2 for 4 with a run and Jaime Haas 2 for 3 with a run.
Ella Ferguson pitched a complete-game victory, striking out nine and allowing six earned runs on 11 hits and three walks.
Tumwater heads to Black Hills for a 4:30 p.m. matchup on Tuesday. Rochester (6-4) travels to Centralia for a 4:30 p.m. game on Monday.
