Warsaw’s Courtney Chookie fires a pitch at Mishawaka Wednesday night. The Tigers dropped a 12-2 final.

MISHAWAKA – Chalk this one up as a learning experience.

That’s the approach that Warsaw softball coach Kevin Dishman took following a 12-2 loss to host Mishawaka Wednesday evening.

The youthful Tigers struggled defensively in falling to the perennially strong Cavemen program in five innings in a non-conference contest at Baker Park.

Warsaw, boasting a roster with just two seniors, falls to 1-1. The Cavemen improve to 2-0.

Dishman was upbeat despite the setback.

“We have a ways to go and we understand that,” said Dishman. “It’s early and we are working on building a team. We know that we have plenty to teach.

“We’re going to be all right. This was a learning game for us. This is still our preseason. We know that we have to field and catch the ball and we did not do that tonight.

“I have high hopes for this team this season. We are a small group, but I feel like we have 10 strong players. Tonight was not a good example of what we are capable of.”

The Tigers, who won 5-3 in their opener at South Bend Riley Monday night, got off to a rocky start Wednesday.

Mishawaka plated four runs in the home half of the first frame to take control from the start. The hosts took advantage of a pair of Warsaw fielding miscues and got an RBI single from sophomore cleanup hitter Ryleigh Banks in the fast start.

The Cavemen stretched their lead to 7-0 with a trio of tallies in the second inning. Banks and junior Megan Fry each had an RBI single for the hosts and the Tigers had two more errors in the frame.

Madison Lane watches a pitch.

Warsaw got on the board in the third as freshman Lindsey Bradley smacked an RBI single to make it 7-1. Mishawaka answered with four more runs in the third, getting an RBI triple off the bat of junior Anna Carpenter and a sacrifice fly from senior Cassidy Challberg.

The big hit of the night for the Tigers came in the fourth inning. Junior Adara Frey crushed a solo homer over the left field fence with one out to make it 11-2.

Mishawaka  scored a single run in the fourth to make it 12-2. The Tigers got a pair of runners on in the fifth in trying to extend the game, but could not plate a run.

The Tigers, who graduated six starters off last year’s 11-12 team, were not at full strength. Sophomore Izzy Dittmar, the team’s starting second baseman, had to miss to game to attend another school function.

“We don’t make excuses, but it was tough not having Izzy tonight,” noted Dishman. “She’s our best player out there and brings confidence to us defensively. She settles everyone down and we missed that tonight with some kids playing out of place.

“I thought that Lindsey (Bradley) was exceptional for us tonight. I also thought that Makayla Richardson did a really good job. It was her first time playing.”

The Tigers committed nine errors in the loss. Junior pitcher Courtney Chookie took the loss in the circle. She had one strikeout and two walks.

Warsaw players get fired up.

“I thought that Courtney did a good job tonight,” remarked Dishman. “She pitched the game we needed. Her velocity was better tonight than on Monday. We just need her to hit her spots and to get ahead in the county early against the hitters.”

Frey led the Tigers with her home run. Freshman Lindsey Bradley had a pair of hits for Warsaw.

Emali Grose, one of just two seniors for the Tigers, had the defensive play of the night. The centerfielder made a tremendous stab of a scorched liner in the second inning while running at full speed deep in right center field.

Banks and Fry paced coach Brian Miller’s Mishawaka team with two hits each for the winners. Standout senior leadoff hitter Sydney Kempf, who will play at Butler, reached base twice for the Cavemen and was the one robbed of extra bases on the outstanding play made by Grose.

Junior Megan Fry earned the pitching win for the hosts. She allowed just four hits with one strikeout and a pair of walks.

Warsaw is off until playing at East Noble on April 10 following Spring Break next week. Mishawaka plays at West Noble Friday and then hosts Chesterton for a doubleheader on Saturday.

Emaili Grose checks her swing.

Adara Frey clubbed a home run for the Tigers.