Several players from the Frontier softball team line up for the playing of the National Anthem prior to the start of Wednesday’s game against Shenandoah in New Matamoras. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

NEW MATAMORAS — The song of choice “Blame it on the Rain” playing over the loudspeaker in the middle of the fifth inning could have been one excuse used by the Frontier softball team after losing 5-3 to Shenandoah, Wednesday at Frontier High School.

Since both teams played under identical weather conditions — consisting of a steady drizzle throughout the contest — Cougars coach Sam Livingston chalked the outcome up to her girls waiting too late in the game to attempt their comeback.

Trailing 5-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Braylee Buck’s two-run single brought the potential game-winning run to the plate. Shenandoah freshman pitcher Aliyah Harding quickly extinguished Frontier’s hopes after an infield fly to the first baseman sealed the win for the Lady Zeps.

Frontier had traffic on the basepaths in every inning following a clean bottom of the first. The Cougars (9-13) stranded 12 runners over the final six innings — including twice with the bases loaded.

“We showed up at the end — we usually turn it on in the seventh inning,” Frontier coach Sam Livingston said. “We just didn’t have the key hit to push us through. The in-between innings, we just kind of sit too long.”

Shenandoah’s Allison Crum slides hard into second base after a lead-off double in the top of the second inning during Wednesday’s game in New Matamoras. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Shenandoah’s second win in as many tries against Frontier left its record at 8-14 with three games remaining in the regular season. Lady Zeps coach Becky Morrison stayed true to her approach of rotating in two pitchers.

Starter Allison Crum allowed just one run on four hits over three innings of work, while Harding earned the win — going the final four innings and yielding two runs on two hits while walking six and striking out one.

“We typically throw two pitchers,” Shenandoah coach Becky Morrison said. “Whoever we start with, when the other team starts timing her up, we will flip pitchers. (After the third inning), we thought it was time. We felt they had my first girl timed up, so we swapped them out.

“They are interchangeable like that. We can start either one. They work very well together.”

Frontier sophomore Mikayla Bennett took the loss after allowing just three earned runs on eight hits in a complete-game effort. With the game tied 1-1 in the third inning, the right-hander was one out away from getting out of a bases-loaded jame when an infield error resulted in two Shenandoah runs at a 3-1 lead.

Shenandoah courtesy runner Brylie Hardesty slides under the tage from Frontier’s pitcher Mikayla Bennett during Wednesday’s game in New Matamoras.(Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Bennett has gone from learning under current Otterbein pitcher and Cougar alum Kaycee Berentz, to becoming Frontier’s ace this season.

“Mikayla has gone from sitting under Kaycee last year to throwing everything for us this year,” Livingston said. “She has worked her butt off for all this. She has some muscle issues, but she is pushing through and doing fantastic.”

Both teams were sent down in order in the first inning before Shenandoah moved in front 1-0 after scoring one run in the second inning. Crum led off the inning with a double. Her courtesy runner Brylie Hardesty advanced to third base on an infield ground out then slid home safely on a wild pitch.

Frontier answered right back in the home half of the second inning and tied the game at 1-1. With two outs and runners at second and third, Miranda Grosklos laced a base hit to center field. Shenandoah’s Josie Hooks played the ball on one hop and fired home to retire Keeley Barrows trying to score from second base.

During one stretch, Bennett retired eight in a row before Shenandoah struck for two runs in the sixth inning. Crum’s one-out single was followed by an Abby Harbaugh double. With runners now at second and third, Macey Mettler kept the line moving with a two-run double.

The Shenandoah starting batter consisting of pitcher Allison Crum (6) and catcher Brylee Morrison look on as Frontier takes infield prior to the start of Wednesday’s game in New Matamoras. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Trailing 5-1 in its final at bat, Frontier made things dicey for Shenandoah. Evie Armstrong led off by drawing a walk and Addison Edgar followed with a single. With one out and runners still at first and second base, Kate Congleton drew a walk.

With the infield playing in and bases full of Cougars, Barrows ripped a hard grounder to the third baseman, who threw home for force and the second out.

Buck’s two-out, two-run single sliced the gap to 5-3 before an infield fly ball secured the win for Shenandoah.

“Things getting dicey seems to be our thing at Shenandoah,” Morrison said. “It doesn’t always look pretty, but they get it done when they have to.”

At New Matamoras

WP: Aliyah Harris 4.0IP 2H 2R 2ER 6BB 1SO

Allison Crum (starter) 3.0IP 4H 1R 0ER 1BB 1SO

LP: Mikayla Bennett 7.0IP 8H 5R 3ER 1BB 2SO

Leading Hitters

Shenandoah (8-14): Aliyah Harding 1-4, run; Josie Hooks 1-4; Brylee Morrison 1-4; Allison Crum 2-3, 2B; Addy Harbaugh 1-3, run, 2B; Macey Mettler 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Nathalie Gheen 1-2, run; Brylie Hardesty 2 runs

Frontier (9-13): Evelyn Armstron 1-3; Addison Edgar 1-4, Mikayla Bennett 1-2, run, 2 BBs; Kate Congleton 2 runs; Braylee Buck 1-2, 2 RBIs; Miranda Grosklos 1-3; Bailey Yoho 1-3

Next game: Shenandoah at Shadyside, 5 p.m. Thursday; Frontier at Caldwell, 5 p.m. Friday