Bottomley sharp as Bulldogs fall 3-0 to Bears in loser-out game

MOSCOW — A stellar defensive effort and rock-solid pitching from Casey Bottomley kept the Bulldogs in the game, but Moscow ace Raelynn Gosse was simply too much, as the Bulldogs’ season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to the Bears in the loser-out game of the 4A Region 1 softball tournament Thursday in Moscow.

Bottomley tossed a complete game eight-hitter, fanning five, and after giving up three runs in the first two innings held the Bears scoreless the rest of the way.

“Casey pitched her best game of the season,” said Bulldogs coach Derek Dickinson. “She kept them off-balance and kept us in it. Gosse is just one of the best pitchers around.”

Maggie Kirscher hit a double and Melissa McGlashan a single for the Bulldogs’ only two hits.

Laurel Presser made a defensive gem at second base, McGlashan gunned down a runner from the outfield and shortstop Kayanna Quigley cut off catcher Jessica Strickland’s throw on a first and third stolen base attempt to nail the runner at home.

“That was fun to see. We’ve been practicing that play all year,” said Dickinson of the gem. “It was by far our best defensive performance of the season.”