HUMBOLDT — These tie-breaking home runs are becoming something of a habit for Humboldt High’s Emily Ross.
Thursday’s shot, a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, erased a 2-1 deficit and paved the way for Humboldt’s 5-3 victory over visiting Burlington. It marked the second time this season that Ross has given Humboldt a late come-from-behind victory with her power.
The Lady Cubs never looked back from there, scoring seven runs in the first inning of Game 2 to complete the sweep with a 12-6 romp.
Thursday’s victories give Humboldt an eight-game winning streak.
“These were two big wins for us against a quality team,” Humboldt head coach Brad Piley said.
Humboldt’s Brooklyn Ellis was locked in a scoreless pitchers’ duel until Burlington scratched across a run in the top of the fourth with a two-out double. The Lady Cubs tied it in the bottom of the inning when Karley Wools walked, moved to second on Isabelle Murrow’s single and scored on a Burlington error.
A two-out single put the Wildcats back on top in the fifth, setting the stage for Humboldt’s winning rally.
Kirstyn Murrow walked and Wools reached on a bunt single to put runners on first and second to lead off the inning. Wools then deposited a 1-0 pitch over the center field fence to put Humboldt on top for good. Courtesy runner Kennisyn Hottenstein added another insurance run when she stole home with two outs.
Humboldt made the most of its four hits. Ross added a single with her home run, while Wools singled twice. Hottenstein had the team’s only stolen base. (Ross also homered to beat Bluestem April 5.)
THERE was no such drama in the nightcap.
After spotting the Wildcats a 1-0 lead, Humboldt sent 10 batters to the plate in its half of the first inning.
Isabelle Murrow got the fun started with a sacrifice fly to drive in Kirstyn Murrow, while Ellis drove in Wools with an RBI single two batters later. A Burlington error allowed Morgan Hunter to score, making it 3-1.
Emma Carson drilled a bases-loaded double to make it 5-1, before she and Kirsten Kobold both scored on a passed ball for runs 6 and 7.
Kirstyn Murrow drove in Kobold with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the third, and Isabelle Murrow’s two-run base hit knocked in Carson and Kirstyn Murrow to make it 10-2.
Carson singled and scored Humboldt’s 11th run in the fifth inning. Hunter scored on a passed ball to cap Humboldt’s scoring in the sixth.
Ellis went the distance in both games. She struck out five and allowed 10 hits in Game 1, while striking out two and allowing 11 hits in the nightcap.
