AMHERST — It took a perfect bunt to ruin Megan Krueger’s perfect game.
Westlake’s Erin Thomas put it down on the first pitch of the seventh inning, but aside from depriving Krueger of a perfecto, it did no harm.
Amherst, behind Krueger’s 13 strikeouts and a 16-hit offensive barrage, routed the Demons 6-0 on Wednesday.
“I tend to throw a rise or a screw to bunters and they usually just pop it up,” Krueger said. “But she just laid it down and I was like, ‘Oh, man,’ because I knew what kind of game was going on. I threw her the screwball because my screwballs usually rise. But this one didn’t and it was easy for her to get.”
The victory kept the Comets (11-1, 6-0) in first place in the Southwestern Conference, a game ahead of Avon Lake. Amherst and the Shoregals meet in an SWC showdown Monday at Sliman’s Diamond. Amherst won their first meeting earlier this month by one run.
Amherst got three hits apiece from Chelsea Parham and Brittney Miller, and two hits each from Miranda Szucs, Ari Antonopoulos, Amanda Arendt and Sarah Novotny. Szucs stroked a triple and double. She hit what appeared to be a first-inning single that became an RBI triple when an outfielder fell trying to reach it.
Szucs doubled in the fourth inning and Jenna Rosso drilled an RBI double in the second that sent Parham running home for the second time.
Krueger struck out 12 through six innings. After Thomas’ successful bunt, Krueger ended the game with two fly balls and her 13th strikeout.
“(Krueger) got stronger as the game went on and she just pitched an outstanding game,” said Westlake coach Tom Shiban. The Demons fell to 3-6, 1-5 SWC.
Amherst coach Bill Matthews said: “Megan’s been pitching real well. They got that little bunt at the end, and it was perfect. But she’s playing like a senior plays.”
Contact Bob Daniels at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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