Wolverines no-hit Asheville in 17-1 thumping

Score early, score often – and don’t allow the opponent any hits.

That’s typically a pretty good recipe for softball success.

So transpired Polk County’s non-conference home game Monday with Asheville, the Wolverines tallying in every inning in handing the Cougars a 17-1 five-inning loss.

Wolverine pitchers Sarah Vitale and Kynley Lawter teamed on a no-hitter, striking out seven with two walks. Asheville (0-9) scored its lone run in the fifth inning on a pair of Polk County miscues.

Polk (6-5) scored twice in the first inning on Katelynn Arrowood’s two-run single and never trailed.

The Wolverines upped the lead to 9-0 in the second inning, the seven-run rally highlighted by Chloe Young’s three-run triple, then added six runs in the bottom of the third, with Amberlyn Scruggs drilling a two-run home run to right-center to highlight that rally.

Polk then added two more runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Elizabeth Vitale and Sarah Vitale.

Elizabeth Vitale finished 3-for-3 with two doubles while Sarah Vitale had a 3-for-4 effort with a double. Arrowood finished 2-for-3 and Scruggs was 1-for-2.

Also adding hits were Mia Bradley, Young, Miya Jackson and Laney Littlefield.

Polk County is scheduled to host Rosman on Wednesday in a 4:30 p.m. non-conference game.