It was a wild Saturday morning for the North Mahaska softball team as they took on Pekin in a pair of nonconference games. An error in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed Pekin to edge the Warhawks 2-1 in game one, then in game two the two teams combined for 33 hits and 33 runs as North Mahaska won 17-16.
North Mahaska got on the board first on a solo home run to right field by Maddie Doonan in the top of the third inning. In the Pekin half of the fourth Ezra Parsons walked and scored on Mya Bainbridge’s single. The score remained tied until Ivory Small walked and scored when Parsons reached on an error.
Regan Grewe took the loss for North Mahaska. She went six and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on six hits, striking out two and walking three. Pekin’s Addison Smith earned the win. The Panther pitcher gave up four hits and one run over seven innings, striking out eight and walking four.
Addie Falb, Lydia Howell, and Bailee Bandstra each singled for North Mahaska behind Doonan’s homer.
Bainbridge and Abby Guise each collected two hits for Pekin. Bainbridge led Pekin with one run batted in. The infielder went 2-for-3 on the day.
Grewe hit two home runs and drove in four runs for the Warhawks in game two. Grewe homered in the third and fourth innings.
Both offenses were strong at the plate as the Warhawks collected 14 hits and Pekin 19 in the high-scoring affair.
It was a see-saw affair with Pekin scoring a run in the bottom of the first. NM took its first lead with two runs in the second. Pekin answered in the bottom half of the second with six runs and the dash was on. Pekin built a 16-12 lead after four innings and seemed destined to win.
In the top of the sixth inning, Grewe was intentionally walked She went to second base when Lydia Howell reached on an error. Bailee Bandstra hit into a fielder’s choice and all three runners were safe. Makenna Darland’s flyball is mishandled bringing home Grewe and Howell.
Kahlen Pothoven singled to right allowing Bandstra to score and Darland dashed to third. North Mahaska’s aggressiveness on the bases allowed them to take the 17-16 lead then held on defense.
Darland earned the win from the circle in relief of Grewe and Jolan Fogle. Darland tossed 3 1/3 innings allowing no runs on three kits and struck out two.
Howell went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead North Mahaska. Olivia Ridgeway and Pothoven each collected multiple hits for North Mahaska Varsity Warhawks. Ridgeway stole three bases. The Warhawks stole six bases in the game.