WAVERLY — The tables were turned on the Marmaton Valley softball Thursday in Waverly.
After thumping Altoona-Midway earlier this week in their season opener, the Wildcats struggled in their second outing of the year. The Lebo/Waverly Bulldogs won the first game, 18-8, and the second game, 20-4.
In game one, Marmaton Valley got off to a great start by jumping out to a 5-0 lead after an inning and a half.
The big hit in the second inning was a three-run single by Trinitee Guiterrez — who also had both RBI in the first inning.
The Bulldogs chipped away with runs in the second and third innings. They broke into the lead with six runs in the fourth inning off of Wildcat sophomore pitcher Karlie Stephens.
The Wildcats scored two in the fifth inning and eight more in the sixth to end the game with a 18-8 victory.
Stephens pitched 4 1/3 innings and threw 147 pitches. She allowed 21 hits and walked eight while striking out four Bulldogs.
Stephens’ heavy workload continued in game two when she threw another 115 pitches in two-plus innings of work. She surrendered 19 hits and 18 earned runs in the 20-4 loss in three innings.
The Wildcats got off to a strong start with a run in the top of the first inning on Stephens’ RBI single to score Isabelle Bigelow and take a brief one-run lead before Waverly scored four runs in the first, five in the second and 11 in the third.
Stephens was the top hitter for the Wildcats by going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI and a double.
Sarah Spillman and Paige Becker had the only other two hits for Marmaton Valley.
UP NEXT
The Wildcat junior varsity plays Monday at Chetopa.
Marmaton Valley’s varsity faces Yates Center on the road on Thursday.
The Wildcats will make their home debut on Monday, April 10, against Burlingame.
