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H-D pounces on Lynx mistakes early, never trails

Nerland 2 for 3, two RBI for WCHS in league setback

WCHS shortstop Taylor McKinney (5) tags out a sliding Hampton-Dumont base runner at third during Wednesday’s game in Hampton. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

HAMPTON — For the third consecutive game, the Webster City softball team was its own worse enemy here Wednesday night and the result was a frustrating loss to a previously winless team.

Hampton-Dumont (1-3, 1-2 NCC) exploited four Lynx errors by turning them into six unearned runs, three of them in the opening inning, and cruised to an 8-3 North Central Conference victory.

WCHS (1-2, 1-2 NCC) has now committed 19 errors in its three outings.

“We need to continue to try to clean things up defensively and we have to make the routine plays,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “I expected them to put the ball in play, but we have to take the outs when they’re given to us.”

The Bulldogs out hit WCHS 8-4. The momentum swung in their favor for good in the bottom of the first inning when, following a two-out error by the Lynx on a routine pop up that plated the game’s first run, Paige Springer belted a two-run home run to left-center field to make it 3-0.

WCHS center fielder Taylor Schnathorst camps under a fly ball during the Lynx 8-3 loss to Hampton-Dumont in Hampton on Wednesday. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WCHS sliced Hampton-Dumont’s lead to 3-2 in its half of the third courtesy of a two-RBI base hit back up the middle by Cassidy Nerland. It scored Zoey Woodle, aboard with a single, and Taylor McKinney, who earned a free pass.

But the Bulldogs padded their lead back to three runs, 5-2, by plating a pair in the fourth.

Another Nerland base knock, this time to right, led to the Lynx final run in the sixth. The Bulldogs added three more runs in the last half of the frame, keyed by a two-run single to right off the bat of Courtney Miller.

Nerland finished 2 for 3 at the dish. Haley Flaws chipped in a seventh-inning infield single.

Erin Bahrenfuss was again on the hook for the loss in the pitcher’s circle. The senior right hander walked two and struck out two.

WCHS junior lead-off hitter Haley Flaws pokes the ball to the right side of the infield during Webster City’s 8-3 loss to Hampton-Dumont. DFJ photo/Troy Banning

WCHS will attempt to get back on track at home this evening when it hosts Clarion-Goldfield-Dows at 7:15 p.m.

Hampton-Dumont 8, Webster City 3

Wednesday at Hampton

Webster City 002 001 0 — 3 4 4

Ham-Dumont 300 203 x — 8 8 1

Erin Bahrenfuss and Cynthia Whitehill. Kylie Voy and Paige Springer. W — Voy. L — Bahrenfuss. 2B — H-D: Cassy Miller. HR — H-D: Springer. RBI — WC: Cassidy Nerland (2); H-D: Springer (2), Courtney Miller (2), Nadilee Eiklenborg, Kiara Donaldson.

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