With Amherst’s first two wins ending in five innings, it took the third game in North Myrtle Beach to reach seven innings.
On April 1, the Comets quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead against Johnson Central (Ky.) in the Grand Strand Classic.
Although Johnson Central rallied in the final two innings, Amherst’s start was too strong for a 5-3 victory.
After the Comets’ Makenna Dorobek and Kayla Rhodes drove in runs in the fifth inning, Johnson Central capitalized on Amherst’s mistakes.
An Eagles batter was walked on back-to-back at-bats in the sixth inning. Along with a Comets’ error, Amherst’s lead was cut to 5-2.
Johnson Central cut the lead to two runs on a single with two outs, but Amherst pitcher Karina Shuster iced the game on the next at-bat with her 11th strikeout.
Amherst (3-0) batted 7-for-30, but used multiple players to string hits.
Comets sophomore Gloria Caserta opened the scoring with a single to drive in the first run.
Two innings later, with two outs, Amherst’s Briana Blankenship hit a double with the bases empty. An error allowed her to reach home plate for an inside-the-park home run.
In the fifth inning, senior Makenna Dorobek and junior Kayla Rhodes drove in runs to lead, 5-0.
Inside the circle, Shuster, a 2025 second-team All-Ohio selection, improved her pitching record to 3-0, as she gave up one earned runs, two walks and seven hits over seven innings.
The Comets will have their final out-of-state game on April 2, when they take on James Madison at 8 a.m.