Belle Plaine thwarted several North Mahaska scoring attempts Friday to score a 9-8 South Iowa Cedar League softball win. Three errors in the first four innings led to runs for the visiting Plainsmen.
“We made mistakes at the wrong times,” said NM coach Mark Schroeder. “They were able to get hits into places we weren’t and we made baserunning mistakes.”
The downfall started early with a one-out error followed by a pair of singles as BP took the lead 1-0. Olivia Ridgeway’s leadoff double allowed the Warhawks to tie the game. Belle Plaine scored twice in the top of the second and third innings to lead 5-3.
North Mahaska managed to tie the game as the team’s headed into the seventh frame. The leadoff batter was hit by a pitch then Jacey Reineke hit a double and Denisyn Adams singled for the Plainsmen.
Kayla Readshaw was hit by a pitch in the North Mahaska half of the seventh, stole second base and scored with two outs on a ball hit by Cali Sampson was booted in the outfield. A flyout ending the tying opportunity.
The flow of the game forced both teams to totter between two pitchers. Jocelyn Pinkerton and Regan Grewe for the Warhawks battled with Taylor Johnson and Izzy Sunkot for BP.
Johnson earned the win with five runs on four hits, seven walks, a hit batsman and six strikeouts. Sankot allowed three runs on four hits.
Grewe was credited with the loss. She allowed two runs on four hits, a hit batsman and a strikeout. Pinkerton gave up seven runs on eight hits, a walk, hit batsman and a strikeout.
Reineke had the big bat for the Plainsmen with a homerun, double and two RBI. She scored twice.
Ridgeway hit two singles and double for North Mahaska. Lydia Howell drove in three runs with a pair of singles and a double.
North Mahaska (5-7) travels to English Valleys Monday, hosts No. 2 Sigourney on Wednesday, travels to Cardinal Thursday and then ends the week at Montezuma. All games are slated for 5:30 p.m.