Four runs in the first frame and an additional run in the fifth propelled the Trojans past the Hawks, 5-4.

It was the second consecutive loss for South Hamilton (16-9), which was still reeling from an 8-3 Heart of Iowa Conference setback against North Polk 24 hours earlier. The Hawks answered the early challenge and eventually tied the game at 4, but went scoreless over the final four innings.

Harris, South Hamilton’s senior clean-up hitter, took West Marshall pitcher Loran Nicholson deep twice for her fifth and sixth home runs of the season. Harris blasted a pitch out to left-center in the first inning for a two-run shot that trimmed the Hawks’ deficit to 4-2. She again got the better of the match-up in the third inning for another two-run dinger.

Harris went 3 for 4 and drove in all four of the Hawks’ runs. Hailey Diersen added three singles in three plate appearances. Breanne Diersen, Krista Swenson and Jessi Harms all lashed one single, as South Hamilton out hit West Marshall (12-10) 9-7.

Jessi Harms got the nod in the circle for South Hamilton against West Marshall on Tuesday. She allowed seven hits in a 5-4 loss. Photo by Angela Hewitt

The Trojans received some help of their own from the long ball in the opening inning. Renae Schaper took Hawks’ pitcher Jessi Harms yard — a two-run shot to straightaway center — and Delaney Nichols laced a two-RBI single later in the frame.

Nichols’ third RBI of the night courtesy of an infield single in the fifth inning provided the go-ahead run.

Harms walked four and struck out four in the loss.

South Hamilton was back at home last night to face Gilbert. It will close out the regular season with a final Heart of Iowa Conference game at Prairie City-Monroe on Friday.

West Marshall 5, South Hamilton 4

Tuesday at Jewell

W. Marsh 400 010 0 — 5 7 2

S. Ham 202 000 0 — 4 9 1

Loran Nicholson and Karisa Blocker. Jessi Harms and Hailey Diersen. W — Nicholson. L — Harms. Multiple hits — WM: Delaney Nichols; SH: H. Diersen (3), Cortney Harris (3). HR — WM: Renae Schaper; SH: Harris (2). RBI — WM: Nichols (3), Schaper (2); SH: Harris (4).