BATTLE CREEK - Gladstone's run for an MHSAA DIvision 3 high school softball title ended in the championship game Saturday morning as the Braves lost to Clinton 4-0 in Battle Creek.
Clinton is a town located about 15 miles southwest of Ann Arbor on the Washtenaw-Lenawee county line.
The Braves actually outhit the Redskins, 6-5, and advanced runners into scoring position four times but couldn't get any across home plate. Gladstone ended up leaving eight runners on base in the game's seven innings, according to a game information posted to the state high school association website, www.mhsaa.com.
Alison Austin started and took the pitching loss, going into the fourth inning and giving up all four of Clinton's runs on four hits while she struck out two and walked one. Reliever Christine Sharon also worked three innings and gave up just one hit and no walks while fanning three.
The Redskins' Tierney Nelson pitched all seven innings, striking out seven, walking two and hitting a batter.
Gladstone (30-6-1) got three hits from rightfielder Katie Becker, including a one-out, first-inning double, while leftfielder Whitney Wells went 2 for 4.
The top three hitters in the batting order for Clinton (43-1) each had an RBI as five Redskins had one hit apiece.
An infield error was crucial in Clinton's three-run third, beginning a rally that included three singles, two steals, a walk and a passed ball. The Redskins added their other run in the fourth on a Cami Prater homer.
Saturday ended a seven-game run in the D3 tournament for the Braves that began on June 1 with an 8-0 victory at home against Negaunee. It was the first time Gladstone hadn't scored at least five runs in a tourney game as it defeated Houghton 10-0, Tawas Area 8-0, Traverse City St. Francis 6-2, Reed City 8-0 and Springport in Friday's semifinals, 5-4.