Down 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning of the first game of Thursday’s softball doubleheader at Sterling, Marion High School shortstop Brooke Johnson swung and missed with two strikes, but she didn’t give up on the play.

The Sterling catcher dropped the pitch, and Johnson hustled to first base, beating the throw. That hustle turned into the Warriors’ first run of the night two plays later when centerfielder Anna Laurin drove her in with a sacrifice fly.

The Warriors scored another run in the inning, but Sterling regained the momentum with a three-run inning.

Marion looked poised to take the momentum again in the fifth, when the team loaded the bases on three consecutive one-out singles. But it wasn’t meant to be. A fly ball didn’t go deep enough for a runner to score, and a ground ball to the pitcher ended the inning without a Marion run.

Pitcher Raelene Allen posted an impressive fifth inning, giving up only one hit while forcing a groundout and two strikeouts.

Leftfielder Jordan Harper and Allen showed good plate discipline, taking walks with two outs in the sixth inning. But the Warriors couldn’t capitalize with a runner in scoring position.

Down 10-2 in the seventh inning, the Warriors kept working hard. Johnson led the inning with a double to left field. Third baseman Alex Cain took a walk before Laurin drove in a run with a bunt that completely stopped halfway between home plate and the pitcher.

Second baseman Tiffany Christensen drove in another run with a sacrifice groundball. Catcher Emily Rogers tallied the final RBI of the game for MHS with a sacrifice grounder.

The Warriors couldn’t complete the rally, as a fly ball ended the game, 10-5.

Second game

The doubleheader continued with Cain as pitcher for Marion. She struck out eight batters, including three of the first seven she faced.

Cain hit the first batter in the third inning, but she didn’t let it rattle her, striking out the next batter. Sterling took a 4-0 lead in the inning.

The Bears increased their lead to 7-0 entering the sixth inning. Allen took a walk to start the inning. Harper appeared to reach first base safely on a dropped third strike, but officials ruled that because first base was occupied, she couldn’t advance.

Johnson moved Harper to third base with a double, and Cain hit an RBI single with two outs.

MHS faced only three batters in the sixth inning, forcing two groundouts. Cain walked the third batter, but the Sterling player got greedy and was tagged out at second.

The Warriors again put runners in scoring position in the seventh inning, with Rogers and first baseman Sarah Guetersloh back-to-back singles. With two outs, Harper loaded the bases with a single, but the Warriors couldn’t capitalize. Sterling won, 7-1.

MHS Statistics

Pitching

Raelene Allen — 6 IP, 10 K, 10 BB, 6 H, 6 ER

Alex Cain — 6 IP, 9 K, 2 BB, 5 H, 1 ER

Batting

Raelene Allen — 0-5, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 SB

Alex Cain — 3-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB

Tiffany Christensen — 0-5, 1 RBI

Sarah Guetersloh — 1-7

Jordan Harper — 0-6, 1 BB

Brooke Johnson — 4-6, 1 2B, 2 R, 2 SB

Anna Laurin — 1-7, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB

Emily Rogers — 2-7, 1 RBI

Annie Whitaker — 2-7, 1 BB, 1 SB