Staff Reports
iBerkshires Sports - Print

04:15PM / Sunday, May 06, 2012


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — It would be hard to find a better day than Alexis Bushika had against Renaissance on Thursday. 

The junior pitcher picked up her first win of the season in dramatic fashion, tossing a no-hitter in the Hoosac Valley softball team's 14-0 win at Renaissance in a game shortened to just five innings due to the mercy rule. Bushika struck out 11 of the 17 batters she faced, giving up just one walk while another Renaissance batter reached on an error. 

In addition to her stellar performance in the circle, Bushika also went 3-for-4 at the plate, finishing with a triple, four RBIs and three runs scored. 

"Alexis had an awesome day out there," Hurricanes head coach Morgan Shafer said. "She was working all of her pitches but really throwing her fastball for some heat, as well as working in the drop, curve and rise really well. It was good for her to get out there throwing, allowing Caroline [Tomkowicz] some rest and really showing the depth we have on our pitching staff."

The Hoosac offense jumped on the hosts early, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning before blowing the game open with a seven-run fourth frame. Senior Tanelle Ciempa went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while junior Tori Rumbolt finished 1-for-2 with an RBI triple, a walk and two runs scored. 

Sophomore Kassandra Kazimierczak (1 for 2, two walks) had the biggest hit of the game for the 'Canes, drilling a three-run homer to spark her team's big fourth inning. Hoosac (4-7) is now off until Monday, when they play at Taconic at 4 p.m.