South Hamilton’s Kate Barkema eyes the pitcher as she stands on base against Greene County Wednesday night in Jewell. DFJ photo/Angela Hewitt

JEWELL — In decent shape to potentially secure a Heart of Iowa Conference victory entering the seventh inning on Wednesday, the South Hamilton softball team gave up a four-run outburst to Greene County and was unable to fight all the way back at the Mike Penning Athletic Complex.

The Rams (4-12, 3-6 HOIC) ripped off a four-run flurry in the last inning to seize the upper-hand, and then held on despite a three-run answer by the Hawks for a 6-5 victory.

Greene County scored single runs in the first and second innings to forge ahead 2-0, and South Hamilton (6-9, 2-5 HOIC) was forced to play catch-up. The Hawks evened it at 2 in the third, but were never able to take the lead.

“We really have to start coming in ready to go from the get go and not play from behind the whole game,” South Hamilton head coach Josh Gorman said. “Once we’re able to start stringing our hits together more consistently, we’ll be a tough team to beat.”

Greene County out-hit South Hamilton, 12-9. Emma Stream and Carmyn Paup both touched Hawks’ pitcher Makena Galetich for three hits, while three others — Emma Hoyle, Alexa Peters and Olivia Shannon — had two each.

Galetich powered the Hawks’ offense from the bottom of the order with a 3 for 3 effort that included two doubles. Emma Lewis went 2 for 2 and Brenna Barquist was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

“It was great to see Emma and Makena’s bats really come to life,” Gorman said.

Kate Barkema added a single and RBI in the loss. Tanna Thompson and Anna Lammers both had base knocks as well.

South Hamilton will head to Roland for the Kiwanis Tournament today. The Hawks will take on Perry at 1 p.m., and North Polk at 4 p.m.

Greene Cty 6, SH 5

Wednesday at Jewell

GC 110 000 4 — 6 12 1

SH 002 000 3 — 5 9 2

Emma Hoyle and Emma Stream. Makena Galetich and Mackenzy Grady. W — Hoyle. L — Galetich. Multiple hits — GC: Stream (3), Carmyn Paup (3), Hoyle, Alexa Peters, Olivia Shannon; SH: Galetich (3), Emma Lewis, Brenna Barquist. 2B — GC: Stream (2); SH: Galetich (2). RBI — GC: Stream (2), Karissa Stephenson (2), Paul, Hoyle; SH: Barquist, Kate Barkema.