Receiving impressive pitching and excellent defensive play, Greenwich High School’s softball team provided a stern test to a formidable Westhill High School squad on Wednesday.

Facing an undefeated Vikings team, the Cardinals relied on the standout pitching of Sophia Blois and key defensive plays throughout the game in this FCIAC matchup, which saw visiting Westhill earn a tough 1-0 win.

Blois, a junior right-hander, effectively pitched to contact, allowing six hits through seven innings, while striking out two batters against a strong Westhill lineup.

“Sophia had a phenomenal game,” Greenwich first-season coach Alexxys Conley said. “It was one of the best games I’ve ever seen her throw the last three years. She came out strong from the start and letting them score just one run was huge for her.”

Greenwich has a 1-4 record so far this season, but has lost two one-run games – Wednesday’s contest versus Westhill and a matchup on April 5 against Weston in which they lost, 9-8.

The Cardinals entered Wednesday’s home game off a dominant 18-0 victory on the road against Bridgeport Central. Westhill is undefeated at 5-0 and went into its game versus Greenwich off two straight games in which they scored 12 runs. That fact made Blois’ pitching performance against the Vikings even more impressive.

“I just tried to stay relaxed the whole game, obviously, it was a close game, so I tried to keep the energy up and just back up my team,” Blois said.

Westhill senior right-handed pitcher Ava Smeriglio pitched a complete-game two-hitter with 12 strikeouts. Smeriglio, who featured a hard-to-hit fastball, also walked only two batters.

“Their pitcher is good, we’ve seen her a couple of times before,” Conley said. “We started hitting the ball and then we fell a little flat. We watched a lot of strikeouts go by, a lot of balls go by, so we have to make the adjustment hitting.”

Junior Gianna Toscano, who plays third base, went 1 for 2 with a walk for the Cardinals. Toscano hit a single for one of the two GHS hits. Senior catcher/captain Campbell Clark also had a single for the Cardinals.

Fine fielding was a theme for Greenwich in Wednesday’s conference game. Senior shortstop/captain Mia Gangi made six putouts for the game, while centerfielder Cameron Clark, a junior, had three putouts for Greenwich.

In the top of the fourth inning, Cameron Clark threw out a Westhill baserunner attempting to score from second base on a single to centerfield. Clark made a perfect throw to her sister, Campbell, who applied the tag at the plate.

“That was awesome, that really kept the energy up and really helped us overall,” Blois said of the Cards’ clutch plays in the field.

Blois mixed her pitches well, spotted her fastball and the fielders behind her make the plays.

“The first time in the lineup I was getting them inside, but then they adjusted to me so I had to start working them out and I just stayed there,” Blois noted. “It’s really about focusing on each batter and what they can’t hit.”

Said Campbell Clark: “We worked together calling pitches and she knew in their lineup when to go outside, when to go inside and she was hitting her spots. When she wasn’t, we both adjusted and she did great today. It was one of her better games the past three years.”

For Westhill, senior centerfielder Riley Sullivan went 2 for 2 with a walk, while Smeriglio, sophomore Sadie Wilde, senior Sophia Wenze, senior Isabella D’Orta and sophomore Abigail D’Orta each had one hit.

Cameron Clark’s throw to home resulted in an out, kept the score 1-0 in the fourth inning.

“After Cam had that throw from center to me and we got that girl on the tag, the energy was up and we were able to carry that energy throughout the rest of the game.”

Toscano singled to center field in the bottom of the second inning and Campbell Clark hit a single in the fifth inning for the Cardinals.

The Vikings scored the game’s only run in the top of the third inning. Smeriglio led off the inning with a single and Sullivan followed by also reaching base on a single. With the bases loaded and one out later in the inning, Wenz drove in Smeriglio with a fielder’s choice ground ball, giving Westhill a 1-0 lead.

That was the lone run Blois allowed during her efficient performance, which included stellar defensive plays.

“That was an extremely effective defensive game,” said GHS senior captain Megan Geiger, who plays first base. “Sophia pitched extremely well, Cameron, Campbell, everybody made great plays. Mia, Casey (Natale) picked up our mistakes. Everybody pulled their weight. That definitely contributed to our success and we hope to keep that going moving forward.”

“I think today proved that one great defensive play can snowball into multiple great defensive plays and it is contagious,” Campbell Clark added.

Conley appreciated her team’s play in the field and she’s seen the defense improve each game.

“I thought we did a great job of executing on defense,” Conley noted. “We knocked down a lot of good hits. We had a huge throw from Cameron in the outfield to double up the runner. Defensively, that was one of the best defensive games I’ve ever seen from us.”

Greenwich is in action again on Monday at FCIAC foe Fairfield Ludlowe.

“We are going to keep this energy going and hopefully, our bats will come to life,” Geiger said.