VAIHINGEN, Germany — A dramatic home run, tight pitching and defense produced a split between defending European Division II champion Bitburg and Patch in high school softball.

Lara Galing hit a one-out, walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to give Patch a 6-5 victory in the opener Saturday, but Bitburg came back with a 13-0 mercy rule victory behind pitcher Tanja Moore.

Galing’s homer came off losing pitcher Ashley Kazimer, who allowed two earned runs, walked none and struck out five.

Kelly De Soto was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Michelle Hughes was 2-for-3 with a double for Patch.

Patch pitcher Lauren Sanchez, who struck out 13 while allowing six hits and seven walks, was the winner in the opener. Bitburg’s Kaitlyn Phillips went 2-for-4 in the first game.

In the nightcap, which was called on the 10-run rule at the end of the fifth, Moore limited Patch to three hits, struck out five and walked none.

Bitburg did most of its damage in a nine-run third, behind one of Phillips’ two home runs and a bases-loaded, three-run double by Casey Martin. Phillips was 3-for-3 and drove in five runs.

Freshman Monica Bintz was 2-for-2 and drove in a run for Bitburg (4-2, 1-1 in Division II). Patch is 4-4 overall.

Lakenheath 15-23, Kaiserslautern 5-11

RAF LAKENHEATH, England — Megan Quasney picked up both victories as defending European Division I champion Lakenheath rolled.

Quasney went 3-for-4 and Natasha Valley was 4-for-6 in the opener.

Migrated