The Cowgirls hosted the first of three straight games at home last Monday, dropping a 12-0 game to Humboldt. The ladies were able to get only two singles, by Quinn Hansch and Hannah Tew, off Wildcat pitcher Ellie Jacobson. Paige Willey drew a walk, with Hansch stealing a base. Alaina Friesleben allowed five earned runs on eight hits over four innings. She allowed six walks, hit four batters and had one strikeout.
“The Wildcats are a very tough-hitting team, and came out hitting hard,” stated head skipper Chace Priusmann. “We played good defense, but they hit the ball right where we weren’t at. Offensively, we were making great contact bu unfortunately hitting the ball right at them and they weren’t making any fielding mistakes. The whole team played very well and kept their heads up and went right back to work after a tough time. I’m very proud of these girls for their efforts.”
The ladies were able to taste victory again this season, and in front of the home fans, in an 8-7 win over Garner-Hayfield/Ventura on Tuesday. The Cowgirls jumped out of the chute strong, plating the first two scores of the night for a 2-0 advantage after the first frame. Five Cardinal runs ended the lead and put them on top after two full innings. The Cowgirls got one back to make it 5-3 going into the fifth. Down 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth, they exploded for five scores and held on from there.
Clarissa Hasty had a great night at the plate in going 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Hansch stroked a two-RBI double in her only connection and scored a run. Courtney Harle, Remi Johnson and Brooke Askelsen all reached on base hits. Kendall Lienemann had two RBI, with Willey and Emma Schluttenhofer chipping in one apiece. Willey and Karlee Lehman scored a run each.
Hansch, Lienemann, Willey and Askelsen all drew a free pass to first each, while C. Hasty, Hansch, Harle, Lienemann and Askelsen all stole a base. Friesleben went the distance in allowing five earned on nine hits with five walks, five hit batters and three K’s.
“Both teams played well,” said Pruismann. “The Cardinals were up by four runs in the fifth and began to fall asleep and our girls rallied hard and worked as a team to come back and win it. We were very good both offensively and defensively. I wanted this one for our team so bad. To have these tough games, and come back and dig hard, gave me even more confidence in our system.”
The week concluded with a 13-1 loss to Webster City on Wednesday. Lienemann smacked a double to score Hansch with the lone run, with both Quinn and Harle getting base hits. C. Hasty and Johnson drew a walk each, with Clarissa making a steal. Friesleben threw three innings, allowing six earned on three hits with seven walks and six hit batters. Askelsen pitched the other inning, allowing no earned on no hits with three walks, a hit batter and a strikeout.
“Offensively, we kept the sticks on the ball but hit right back to their defense,” said the coach. “Our offense has really come around at the end of the season, and we will work hard in the off-season and come back hitting harder and working on our placement. Defensively, we worked very hard with some errors and hard hits got through. All in all, a great week and I just can’t tell everyone how proud I am of our team. Small wins during the game will get us more big wins at the end.”
Regionals next Monday
The Cowgirls will enter Class 2A regional play next Monday at Ogden versus South Hardin. First pitch is at 7 p.m. The winner of that game takes on highly-ranked Ogden on Thursday on the Bulldogs home field at 7 p.m.
