It was a rough start to the new era for Mount Si softball on Tuesday, March 13, as the Wildcats couldn’t overcome early struggles and fell to a tough Issaquah team.

Catcher Molly Nelson went three-for-three with two doubles and scored twice as the Eagles won 6-0. Issaquah scored three times in the first inning on struggling Wildcat starting pitcher Traci Barclay. The junior walked two of the first three hitters and threw three wild pitches in the inning.

Several factors came into play, according to the pitcher. “The cold weather, definitely, and then like the new balls, they’re a little bit more slick and they don’t have as many seams,” Barclay said. When questioned further, Barclay said the balls are new this year, and added that with the different seams, they were more difficult to grip.

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