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Unearned runs hurt MFL MarMac softball team in busy week

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Bulldog Savannah Schaller snags a pick-off throw to first base in the game one loss to visiting Midland. (Photos by Audrey Posten)

Katelyn Gerndt books it home in game one of MFL MarMac’s June 6 doubleheader against Turkey Valley. The Trojans won both games.

Lauren Haberichter delivers a pitch home in MFL MarMac's doubleheader versus Midland.

Morgan Jacobson throws a ball to the infield in game one of last week's doubleheader versus Midland.

Autumn Shaw attempts to out-run a throw to first base.

Devon Meyer got some time on the mound in MFL MarMac's June 10 doubleheader against Midland.

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

 

The MFL MarMac softball team posted a 2-7 record last week, in a busy stretch that included three doubleheaders as well as a tournament.

 

Action started June 6, with a home sweep at the hands of Turkey Valley. The Trojans won the first game 7-3, scoring seven unanswered runs when the Bulldogs put up three tallies in the opening inning.

 

Turkey Valley collected seven hits and two walks off Bulldog starter Lauren Haberichter, and capitalized on five errors and six stolen bases. Just two of the seven runs the senior pitcher surrendered were earned.

 

The Bulldog offense, meanwhile, picked up four combined hits and a walk and stole five bases. Leadoff batter Ashley Shaw earned two of those hits—both singles—and scored a run. Savannah Schaller singled and stole a base, knocked in a run and scored once, while Haberichter recorded an RBI single.

 

Game two was a nearly identical 7-2 win for Turkey Valley. The Trojans claimed an early 3-0 lead in this match-up, then continued to tack on runs.

 

Haberichter pitched six of the seven innings for the Bulldogs, allowing six hits, a walk and a hit batter, while striking out nine Trojans. Four runs scored on her watch, but only two were earned. Eighth grader Devon Meyer also worked an inning, giving up three hits and an earned run.

 

MFL MarMac batters snagged only three hits, but reached twice on errors and walked five times. Ayla Gerndt and Morgan Jacobson both doubled, and Jacobson scored a run. Autumn Shaw had the other hit, which was a single, and sister Ashley picked up an RBI. 

 

The Bulldogs rebounded from the losses June 8, with a doubleheader sweep of their own over West Central. They struck early in game one, scoring three runs in the first inning, followed by two in the second and one in the third. Assurance runs in both the sixth and seventh innings gave the team a 10-2 win.

 

Haberichter kept the Blue Devils at bay with a 12-strikeout performance. She allowed just two hits over seven innings, and both runs scored against her were unearned.

 

The senior also led the offensive effort with a 2-4 stat line and a hit by pitch; she was responsible for four RBIs as well. Schaller singled twice and stole a base, knocked in two runs and scored two times herself. Katelyn Gerndt was 1-2 with a walk, hit by pitch, sacrifice and RBI. She swiped a bag and scored two runs. Jacobson singled and walked, drove in a run and crossed home plate once.

 

Game two was even more lop-sided, as MFL MarMac claimed a 12-1 advantage over the Blue Devils. The Bulldogs collected eight hits and five walks and reached three times on errors. They also took advantage of four steals in a game that included a five-run first inning and three-run outbursts in both the second and third.

 

Haberichter continued to keep West Central hitters off balance, allowing three hits and one earned run over five innings. She finished with three strikeouts. 

 

On the offensive side, Haberichter singled, walked and knocked in two runs. Schaller and Ashley Shaw were each 2-4, with a double and single, and scored twice. Shaw also swiped two bases. Meyer singled, walked and stole a base, in addition to recording an RBI and scoring a run. Jacobson had a similar 1-3 stat line with an RBI and run scored.

 

The Bulldogs couldn’t keep that winning momentum going in a June 10 doubleheader against Midland. The Eagles took the opener 22-4, thanks to a relentless 17-run third inning. They reached base a whopping 15 times on hits, then drew eight free passes. Six Bulldog errors also contributed to Midland’s success, with only six of the 22 runs considered earned.

 

MFL MarMac’s offense eked out only four hits in the game, but continued to reach base on five walks. Katelyn Gerndt, Haberichter and Meyer all singled, walked and scored a run. Schaller was 1-2 and scored once as well.

 

Game two was just as high scoring, this time with a 17-13 result for Midland. The Eagles went up 3-0 in the first inning, but the Bulldogs fought back to take a 4-3 advantage in the second. Midland tied it 4-4 that inning, then went ahead 5-4 the following frame, before MFL MarMac unleashed a four-run fourth. The Eagles later scratched out three runs in the fifth and six in the sixth, to go back ahead 15-9. The Bulldogs tried to close the gap with four runs of their own in the seventh, but couldn’t overcome the deficit.

 

The game was one of the most fruitful for the MFL MarMac offense, which wound up with 14 hits, six walks, a hit by pitch and two stolen bases. Schaller was responsible for four of those hits—three singles and a double—and also contributed a sacrifice fly, a stolen base, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jacobson went 2-4 with a walk, knocked in three runs and scored once, while Haberichter was 2-4 with a sacrifice fly, two RBIs and a run scored. Autumn Shaw singled twice and drew a walk, drove in a run and score once. Meyer had a similar 2-5 stat line with an RBI and run scored.

 

Unfortunately, MFL MarMac couldn’t get back on track in a June 11 tournament at Riceville, where the team lost all three of its games.

 

The Bulldogs fell 9-2 versus Saint Ansgar, in what was another tough loss for Haberichter. The senior gave up 11 hits and three walks, along with striking out five batters, in five innings.

 

Conversely, MFL MarMac tallied four hits and two walks and was uncharacteristically quiet on the base paths. Ashley Shaw racked up three of those hits and crossed home plate once. Haberichter was 1-2 and walked, and Jacobson drove in a run.

 

The offense, despite totaling six hits, continued to stay quiet in a 6-2 loss against Waukon. Schaller and Katelyn Gerndt were both 1-3 with an RBI, while Hailey Bouzek singled and scored. Ayla Gerndt, Haberichter and Jacobson accounted for the other hits.

 

On the mound, Haberichter allowed 10 hits and three walks, but only two earned runs, over six innings. She also struck out nine Indians.

 

In the final tournament game, the Bulldogs suffered a 10-3 loss against host Riceville. The squads were knotted 3-3 heading into the fifth, when MFL MarMac once again fell prey to the big inning, this time a seven-run rally by the Wildcats.

 

MFL MarMac now sits at 5-11 overall, but 4-2 in the Upper Iowa Conference. The team has six games on the slate this week, including a home doubleheader with Kee on June 13, followed by a game versus Alburnett on June 14. There’s a twin bill scheduled at South Winn on June 15, then a non-conference match-up at North Linn on June 17.

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