Grady’s 2 dingers not enough for Hawks
Trojans hand SH 3rd consecutive setback
JEWELL — A back-and-forth softball slugfest needed extra innings to decide a winner Wednesday night at the Mike Penning Athletic Complex.
Tied at 7 after seven innings, West Marshall plated the go-ahead run in the eighth and then shut South Hamilton down in the last half of the frame to preserve an 8-7 win. It was the second consecutive win for the Trojans (4-7, 2-5 HOIC), while the Hawks (4-6, 2-3 HOIC) sustained their third straight setback.
The contest featured two lead changes and two ties. South Hamilton led 4-3 after four innings before West Marshall plated two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to build a 7-4 advantage.
But Hawks’ slugger Mackenzy Grady had the answer in the last half of the sixth, as she delivered her second home run of the game and third of the season — a three-run shot — to bring it back to even at 7. Grady also belted a two-run long ball in the second and collected five RBIs on the night.
West Marshall out-hit South Hamilton 11-7 and the two teams combined for nine errors.
Tanna Thompson went 3 for 4 for the Hawks. Kaylee Oskvig delivered an RBI single, while Kate Barkema and Brenna Barquist also rattled off base knocks.
Lilly Buck went yard for West Marshall, while teammates Peyton Smith, Kalyn Polley and Keatan Pfantz all produced two hits.
Anna Lammers went the distance in the circle for the Hawks. Only three of the Trojans’ runs were earned; she walked one and struck out five.
South Hamilton will be back at home this evening to take on Prairie City-Monroe at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday at Jewell
WM 201 022 01 — 8 11 4
SH 121 003 00 — 7 7 5
Madeline Karsjen and Clara Dee. Anna Lammers and Mackenzy Grady. W — Karsjen. L — Lammers. Multiple hits — WM: Peyton Smith, Kalyn Polley, Keatan Pfantz; SH: Tanna Thompson (3), Grady. 2B — WM: Polley, Karsjen. HR — WM: Lilly Buck; SH: Grady (2). RBI — WM: Josie Zahnd (2), Dee, Polley, Buck; SH: Grady (5).