WHS SOFTBALL: WHS tops MCC 12-10

SLAYTON — The bats were hot in Monday’s softball contest between the Worthington Trojans and the Murray County Central Rebels.

There were 29 hits and 22 runs scored between the two teams, as the Trojans won 12-10, increasing their win streak to four games.

“We did so good today at the plate,” Worthington pitcher Angela Robinson said. “We had strong hitting all around. Everyone on the lineup had a hit today, which is awesome.”

It was a big third inning for both teams where the bats came alive.

The score was 2-1 in favor of Worthington entering that inning.

Robinson hit a home run to right-center field to start things off for the Trojans. Brandie Timmerman and Jenny Majerus followed up with two-consecutive walks before Worthington got its first out of the inning.

Kara Honius then hit a single to center to load the bases. Haley Rogers hit a two-RBI single to center to make the score 5-1 with only one out.

Tuyen Nguyen hit an RBI-blooper to short left field, putting runners on first and second base. Paige Kinley hit an RBI-double to left to put runners on second and third and make the score 7-1.

After the Rebels retired another Trojan for the second out, Robinson came up to bat again and hit a three-run homer — her second homer of the inning — to give Wortington a 10-run inning and a nine-run (10-1) advantage.

“I have never seen someone hit two home runs in the same inning before,” Robinson said. “I’m really excited, though. That’s pretty cool.”

But MCC came right back in the bottom of the inning.

Michaela Hartle started things off with a single to right-center field. Jade Giese then hit a double to left to put runners on second and third with no outs.

Two batters later, Makenzie Giese walked to load the bases with one out. Taylor Schreier hit a bloop single behind first base to bring in a run and put runners on the corners.

Courtny Blomgren hit an RBI-single to once again put runners on the corners. Sophie Nepp followed up with an RBI-double to center to make the score 10-6 at the end of the third inning.

“We established a big lead and that was great, but you have to give credit to MCC because they came right back into it,” WHS coach Sam Baumgartner said. “By the time the sixth inning came around it was really anyone’s game.”

MCC added three runs in the fifth inning, on RBIs from Nepp, Carlie Ludolph and Hartle to bring the Rebels within one with two innings to play.

And it was, indeed, anybody’s game.

But the Trojans responded in the sixth inning, stretching their lead once again.

With two outs in the inning and runners on first and second, Kinley hit a two-RBI triple to left field to make the score 12-9.

MCC was unable to score in the bottom of sixth inning, but did manage to put another run on the board in the seventh on an RBI from Hartle. But that was all the Rebels were able to do and the home team lost the game 12-10.

“We had good at-bats and took advantage of some things offensively,” Baumgartner said. “Then we went into a little bit of a funk in the middle of the game that was a result of us just relaxing a little too much, I think. MCC is a good team and batted well as well. They made it a ballgame, just like a good program like that tends to do.”

Robinson pitched for the Trojans, finishing the game with five strikeouts, one walk and giving up 15 hits.

Krista Bose pitched for the Rebels, striking out three, walking eight and giving up 14 hits.

MCC’s next game is today against Southwestern United.

Worthington plays today in a doubleheader against Windom. The Trojans are now 5-3 on the season.

With a four-game win streak on the line, the Worthington softball team doesn’t want to see that end anytime soon.

“We’d like to keep this streak going,” Baumgartner said. “We’re getting back into conference play, so there’s no doubt it’s going to be a set of competitive games. I just hope we’re able to maintain our composure and not get down if things go astray.”

R H E

WHS 208 002 0 – 12 14 7

MCC 105 030 1 – 10 15 0

Daily Globe Sports Reporter Jocelyn Syrstad can be reached at 376-7335.

Tags: murray county central, sports, prep, softball