WELLSVILLE — A solid all-around showing in game one didn’t translate to the second game in Iola softball’s split against Wellsville Tuesday.
The Mustangs earned a clean pitching performance from Elza Clift and struck late at the plate for four runs in the seventh inning to pull away for the 7-3 win. Iola’s defense couldn’t carry over their momentum from game one when the Mustangs were taken down 12-0 in game two.
Game one
Iola grabbed a one-run lead in the top of the first but Wellsville quickly made it a 1-1 game in the bottom of the first. The Eagles went ahead by one in the bottom of the second, 2-1.
After each team scored in the fifth inning to knot the game at 3-3, Iola unloaded for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the 7-3 victory.
“They were really patient at the plate in that inning. Early on we were almost overly aggressive at the plate, swinging at pitches that weren’t strikes,” said Iola head coach Chris Weide. “In the inning we scored five, they swung at pitches they could handle.”
Jadyn Kaufman led the Mustangs with two runs while Kaysin Crusinbery, Harper Desmarteau and Reese Curry each knocked in one run. Aysha Houk also had a team-high two hits while Crusinbery, Desmarteau, Kaufman and Curry each had a hit.
Clift pitched all seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out nine Eagles and walking one.
Game two
It was all Wellsville in game two. The Eagles plated four runs in the second and third innings and another three runs in the bottom of the fourth for the 12-0 win. The Mustangs committed three costly errors which led to more runs in the loss.
“There were a couple of plays that didn’t go our way early and we let it snowball on us,” Weide said. “Mentally and physically we let it affect our play in the field and we were down six or eight runs before we knew it.”
Krystina Hurst started in the pitcher’s circle for Iola and worked one inning, allowing three runs to score on two hits and two walks. Clift came on in relief in the second inning to pitch and went the rest of the three innings, surrendering nine runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.
Clift was the Mustangs’ leader at the plate where she had a team-high two hits. Crusinbery walked and that was the only other Iola base runner the rest of the game.
Iola hosts Santa Fe Trail on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
