The game's lone run, scored in the top of the fourth inning, was unearned. It was a fitting that neither hurler would be charged with an earned run in a pitchers' duel.

"We were fortunate to get that run," Union Head Coach Bill Juengel said. "There was a misplay in the field and we were able to score. We weren't real tight defensively. We got ourselves into a few situations, but we were able to get out of them. That basically was the difference in the ballgame. Both pitchers did a great job for both teams."

Borgia Head Coach Stan Westhoff said both teams played well enough to win.

"You really wish there didn't have to be a loser declared," Westhoff said. "At the same time, you've got to take your hat off to Union. They could have had their daubers down and they came back and really got after it. I'm proud of our girls. We really got after it too. We did a lot of things right out there, too. If there was an unfortunate bounce and maybe a lucky 'tweener and it could have been a different game."

Clemons, the youngster, had the flashier statistics. Over seven innings, she allowed one hit (by sophomore Kayla Epple) and two walks. She hit one batter and Borgia committed one error. She struck out 14 Union batters.

"I was real confident that she was going to keep us in the game every inning," said Westhoff. "This one reminds me of that Howell Central game last year in which she got the no-hitter and we lost by one on an error. "

Mayfield might not have had the overwhelming statistics, but she got the job done. Borgia managed three hits and had six runners in the game. One batter was hit by a pitch and two more reached on errors. Mayfield struck out five.

"It was touch and go there," Juengel said. "There were a few times we had to do some things defensively and bring the infield in. You're taking a chance and it worked out for us. Next time it might not work out."

The lone run was scored by Union junior Kris Stevens. She reached base on a fielder's choice and came all the way around on an error as Borgia tried to force her at second base.

"It was a typical Union-Borgia softball game at the beginning of the season," said Juengel, who has seen his share of extremely close contests between the two schools over the years.

"Any time you are in fastpitch softball and you have two very good, very competitive teams playing each other, one play usually decides the game," Westhoff said. "We had one play that decided the game for us. There were opportunities we had that could have taken advantage. We had one play where we could have won the game."

Mayfield worked magic with runners on base.

Borgia had two runners (senior Julia Garza and Clemons) on base in the first inning before Mayfield coaxed the third out on a grounder to second.

The Lady Knights threatened in the third when senior Maggie Vossbrink singled and stole second with one out. Mayfield came back to get a strikeout and grounder to end the frame.

In the fourth, Clemons singled and courtesy runner senior Emily Krampe was moved all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Lauren Neier. However, Mayfield got a popout to third base and a strikeout to escape that jam.

The toughest inning for Mayfield was the fifth. Senior Ally Rettke was hit by a pitch and replaced at first by senior Olivia Ritter. Senior Brandi Bargen reached on an error and Ritter went to third. With Vossbrink, the leadoff batter, at the plate, Bargen stole second.

So Borgia had runners on second and third with nobody out. Mayfield got Vossbrink on a popout to catcher Epple. Borgia tried to bunt with junior Grace Fritz, but Mayfield got her to hit right to junior third baseman Emily Hellmann. Garza popped out to Hellmann to end the inning.

"Brittany did a great job to help us get out of that," Juengel said.

"We needed that one big hit which could have made the difference or turned the game around," Westhoff said.

Union had other chances as well. In the fifth inning, Junior McKenzie Groff led off with a walk and took second on a wild pitch with one out. Junior Katie Jasper bunted her to third, but Clemons struck out the next batter for her 10th K of the day.

Borgia's three hits came from Vossbrink, Garza and Clemons.

Union dominated the junior varsity game, which was played before the varsity contest. Juengel felt the late start had an impact.

"It's hard enough to see that softball on a sunny afternoon," Juengel said. "I would find it hard to see the ball after dark, even though they have nice lights here. Both pitchers did a great job."

A large crowd was on hand for the varsity game.

"It was good to see all the people at a softball game," said Juengel.