The Lumberjacks ended up taking three out of the five games and capped off the weekend with a great game on Sunday. In Sunday’s game, ACC took on the Mid Michigan Lakers and fought until the end ultimately winning 2-1.

Game five of the series was a pitcher’s duel from the start, where ACC pitched Makayla Kamyszek and Mid-Michigan countered with Heidi Nagel.

Kamyszek and Nagel went back and forth barely allowing any hits resulting in almost no scoring.

Both teams got out right in order to begin the first two innings and it wasn’t until the top of the third before either side had a hit. Olyviah Hanson singled to center, but Kamyszek recovered and forced the next hitter into a double play.

News Photo by James Andersen Alpena Community College softball coach Christin Sobeck high-fives Avery Zipp in between innings of a softball game on Sunday in Ossineke.

It wasn’t until the top of the sixth that Mid Michigan started to get things going. A four-pitch walk by Ella Clauss followed up by a sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position with only one out. Shelby Bundy broke the 0-0 tie game with a single into centerfield that scored Clauss. Kamyszek pitched her way out of the jam and held the Lakers to one run going into the bottom of the sixth.

Up to this point, ACC was still hitless, but that was soon to change. A leadoff bunt single from Liz Romel set up the game-tying run on base and the game-winning run at the plate.

The Lumberjacks then laid down a sacrifice of its own to move Romel into scoring position.

Abby Platt continued the rally with a single into left field leaving runners at the corners.

Then with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Paige Wooden drove a ball hard into right field scoring both runners and taking the 2-1 lead.

News Photo by James Andersen ACC infielder Breya Domke makes contact with a pitch during a softball game on Sunday in Ossineke.

“Throughout all of the games, (Mid-Michigan) was pitching to me inside and the second they left one outside I took advantage of it and hit it down the line. It was just really nice that I had two teammates on base to drive in those runs in the first place,” Wooden said.

Although ACC had the lead going into the final inning and Kamyszek was pitching a great game, Lumberjacks’ coach Christin Sobeck decided to change the pitcher in the final inning. Jade Schultz was brought in to close the game out and potentially clinch the playoffs.

Schultz understood the assignment and was perfect on the mound. She retired all three hitters in order and officially clinched a playoff spot for the Lumberjacks.

“It felt so good to close out the game and just do it in front of the home fans. I’m so glad we could beat them like that and win three out of the five games because they’re a great team,” ACC player Jade Schultz said.

“We used all of our data and analytics from our scouting report to set up those final three outs. We really wanted them to get used to seeing Makayla (Kamyszek) and then see a totally new arm in Jade (Schultz) to close out the game. Jade obviously did her job and really pitched to those hitters’ weaknesses and that’s just really good ball,” Sobeck said.

The Lumberjacks’ two games on Friday ended in scores of 0-2 and 2-1. While the two Saturday games ended 0-12 and 6-5.

ACC plays Delta on Saturday.