Grinnell Stuns Indians For Third Straight Loss
by Jamie Brockman
It’s been a rough week so far for the Oskaloosa Softball team. After dropping both games of a doubleheader to Norwalk on Monday, the Indians dropped their third straight Little Hawkeye Conference game to Grinnell 3-2 Tuesday night.
Oskaloosa took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Taylor Wills led off with a double then scored later in the inning. Grinnell answered with a run in the third inning, knotting up the game as they racked up four hits in the inning. Still tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, Oskaloosa scored the go-ahead run on three hits including a single by Abby Braundmeier, an RBI single from Olivia Gordon who came in to pinch hit for Kaylee Johnson and a single by Meghan Moorman.
Leading 2-1 into the seventh inning, Oskaloosa was three outs away from a win, but the Tigers rallied, taking advantage of a walk and two hits, including a 2 RBI single from Kiana Kies. Oskaloosa was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh on three pitches giving Grinnell the upset 3-2 win.
Hayle Hacker took the loss pitching seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking three. At the plate, Moorman and Ashley Kindley each had two singles, Braundmeier, Maddie Haines and Gordon had singles and Wills had a double.
Head Coach Jay Harms said he gives credit to Grinnell because they made great plays including a huge out when they threw out Kaylee Johnson at home in the bottom of the sixth inning taking away what would’ve been a big run. “I feel sorry for our pitcher Hayle Hacker; she’s thrown 14 innings in the last two nights and only given up four runs but lost both games. We’ve stranded 21 runners in the last two games we’ve played, and you just can’t do that and expect to win in the Little Hawkeye Conference. Right now we’re just going through a little funk, and hopefully, we’ll fight out of it with more tough games coming this week. We’ve been very inconsistent in hitting the ball, and we’re just waiting for someone to step up and give us that spark, and hopefully, that happens sooner than later cuz we gotta get going.”
Oskaloosa fell to 8-5 overall and is now 2-4 in LHC play and is back in action Wednesday night with another tough conference game hosting Pella.
