The Tigers (5-2, 4-1 HOIC) belted 13 hits during their 14-4 win over the Hawks (2-3, 2-3 HOIC).

South Hamilton didn’t do itself any favors in the fifth though. Gilbert sent 12 batters to the plate, but had just three hits in the stanza. However, the Tigers took advantage of five walks and one hit batter to light up the scoreboard and put the game out of reach.

Jessi Harms suffered the loss in the circle. The senior right-hander went 41⁄3 innings and allowed eight hits before handing the ball to Anna Lammers in relief. Harms walked seven batters.

South Hamilton rattled off seven hits, keyed by 2 for 3 performances from Harms and Brenna Barquist. Both players found the gap for a double.

Members of the South Hamilton infield huddle in the pitcher’s circle prior to the start of an inning against Gilbert Friday night in Gilbert. DFJ photo/Angela Hewitt

Mackenzy Grady, Jessica Woodall and Kaylee Oskvig all singled in the loss. Harms, Woodall and Oskvig all drove in one run.

Sydney Lynch powered Gilbert’s offensive attack with three hits and four RBIs. Lauren Nissen, Nessa Johnson and Taylor Puck, just an eighth grader, all laced two hits. Puck roped a double, as did Halli Nissen.

It will only get tougher for South Hamilton this evening when it travels to Alleman for a league doubleheader against eighth-ranked (Class 3A) North Polk at 5 p.m.

Gilbert 14, South Hamilton 4 (6 inn)

Friday at Gilbert

S. Ham 020 002 — 4 7 1

Gilbert 030 173 — 14 13 1

Jessi Harms, Anna Lammers (5) and Mackenzy Grady. Lauren Nissen and Emma Mostek. WP — Nissen. LP — Harms. Multiple hits — SH: Harms, Brenna Barquist; GIL: Sydney Lynch (3), L. Nissen, Nessa Johnson, Taylor Puck. 2B — SH: Grady, Harms, Barquist; GIL: Halli Nissen, Puck. RBI — SH: Harms, Jessica Woodall, Kaylee Oskvig; GIL: Lynch (4), L. Nissen (3), Johnson, Mostek, Bella Nelson, Taylor Sniezek.