HAMPTON — The Webster City softball team is hitting its stride as it inches closer to the postseason in a couple of weeks.

The Lynx late-season surge continued here last night, as they plated two runs in the top of the eighth inning and then wiggled out of a jam in the bottom of the frame to take down North Central Conference rival Hampton-Dumont, 3-1.

It was the fourth straight win for WCHS (12-9, 4-5 NCC) and it ended a four-game surge by the Bulldogs (9-9, 3-6 NCC). The Lynx also avenged a 6-1 loss to Hampton-Dumont earlier this season.

WCHS took advantage of two Bulldog errors in the eighth to plate the go-ahead runs. Kelly Stoakes provided the only hit during the flurry; she and Taylor McKinney both scored.

The two teams traded goose eggs throughout the initial five innings. WCHS finally got on the board in the sixth, but Hampton-Dumont knotted it at 1 in the last half of the seventh.

WCHS touched Bulldog left-handed pitcher Kylie Voy for just four hits, but two of them went for extra bases. Stoakes went 2 for 3 with a double and she scored two runs. Leah Kasch found the gap for a triple and Haley Flaws added a single.

Lynx freshman pitcher Jenna Miller had one of her finer outings of the season, as she limited the Bulldogs to just five hits and no earned runs. Miller retired the first nine batters she faced, 12 of the first 13 and 18 of the first 20.

Webster City 3, Hampton-Dumont 1 (8 inn.)

Thursday at Hampton

Webster City 000 001 02 — 3 4 2

Hampton-Dumont 000 000 10 — 1 5 5

Jenna Miller and Kaitlynn Seeley. Kylie Voy and Paige Springer. W — Miller. L — Voy. 2B — WC: Kelly Stoakes; H-D: Makayla Severs. 3B — WC: Leah Kasch. Multiple hits — WC: Stoakes; H-D: Severs, Triston Rew.