By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - The Buchanan varsity softball team got off to a good start for its first game of the season Tuesday night winning 8-4 at home against South Haven.
The game was supposed to be a double header, but was stopped in the fifth inning of the second game due to lack of sunlight and is suspended until further notice. The game was tied at one when it was called.
The Bucks return a lot of experienced varsity players from last year's team and have some new faces as well.
The Rams got out to an early lead in the first inning going ahead 2-1, but Buchanan was able to tie it at two in the bottom of the second.
Both teams remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when the Bucks scored two runs to take a 4-2 lead. South Haven was also able to get two runs in the top of the fifth to tie it back up at four.
In the bottom of the fifth, Chenai Marker was able to steal home on a pitching error bySouth Haven's Amy Brunson to put the Bucks up by one, 5-4.
The Rams stayed scoreless in the top of the sixth and only had one batter on base, who was eventually thrown out by Leslie Niemier at second base on an attempt to steal.
The Bucks took charge in the bottom of the sixth sending three runners in to score.
With two runners on base, Liz Thronton hit the ball up the center to score Linsey Ross, putting Buchanan up 6-4. Hayley Burks also made it home on a steal to put the Bucks up by three, 7-4. Thornton was almost thrown out at second, but South Haven's shortstop dropped the ball to keep her safe.
Ashley Pointer hit an infield ground ball and was thrown out at first, but advanced Thornton to third and eventually allowed her to score the last run for the Bucks.
Buchanan's defense in the top of the seventh didn't even allow a Rams player on base.
Tracy Brelowski made the first out for the Bucks with a catch in center field. Two ground balls in a row hit to Buchanan's shortstop Emily Ross allowed her to make the last two plays for the Bucks and to take the 8-4 win.
Niemier had a double and Ross had a triple for the Bucks and Katy Degrandchamp of South Haven had a home run.
In the second game it was Buchanan which took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but South Haven was able to score in the top of the third to tie the game at one.
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when the game was called. No further information is available as to rescheduling of the game.
Buchanan, now 1-0, will travel to River Valley on April 11 for its first conference game set to begin at 4 p.m.