ANOTHER NO-NO: Salo Shuts Down Braves Again

GLADSTONE---Gabi Salo tossed a no-hitter and allowed just one baserunner as the Escanaba Eskymos beat the Gladstone Braves, 7-0, in high school softball action on Tuesday evening in Gladstone. Salo then came on in relief to get the final four outs of the second game as the Eskymos completed the sweep, 5-2.

It was Salo's second complete-game no-hitter against her cross-bay rivals, and this time, the only thing that prevented a perfect game was a walk to Sydney Herioux in the first inning on a close 3-2 pitch.

Herioux was caught trying to steal second moments later, then Salo retired the next 20 girls she faced, with none hitting the ball out of the infield. Salo struck out 14 batters.

Cassi Wisler hit a solo home run off of Gladstone starting pitcher Lexi Winling in the second inning, and the Eskymos held on to that 1-0 lead for five innings. Winling left the circle in the sixth inning, and Andie Balenger came on to pitch for the Braves.

The Eskymos scored five runs in a bat-around sixth inning, with Wisler and Salo getting RBI singles, and Claire McInerney and Maddy Griffin each getting RBI bunt singles.

Taylor Gauthier closed the scoring with a towering solo home run to right field in the top of the seventh inning.

In the second game, freshman Nicole Kamin got the ball for the Eskymos, and despite a bum ankle, she held the Braves to one base hit and one walk through five innings.

Meanwhile, Winling gave up an unearned run in the first inning. Then the Eskymos scored three runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead as McInerney ripped a two-run double and Wisler continued her hot hitting with an RBI single.

The Braves finally got on the board in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Morgan Letteriello and an RBI single by Kaitlyn Hardwick. That cut Escanaba's lead to 4-2, but Salo came on to get Herioux to pop up to end the inning.

The Eskymos got a run in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Dakota Cloutier, then in the bottom of the inning, Salo retired the side in order to complete the sweep.

Escanaba (21-3) travels to Marquette for a doubleheader on Thursday, then the Eskymos host Norway in doubleheader next Tuesday afternoon.

Gladstone (24-12) hosts Westwood in a doubleheader on Thursday.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos taken by Mary Gauthier. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear interviews with Wisler, Salo, and Escanaba Manager Jamie Segorski.