By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

The Marion softball team has proven that it is not going to go down quietly.

With the first game against Bennington tied at 3, Megan Richmond locked down the contest on the mound. She drew a double play in the fifth, struck out two batters and drew a weak pop fly to second in the sixth. She got out of the second with consecutive ground balls and a Bennington runner caught stealing.

Into extras, she ended the eighth with a pop up and grounder back at her, and then a foul-tip strikeout after starting the batter 2-1.

Head coach Jennifer Felvus said Richmond and catcher JayDee Schafers were working in concert.

“It has to be a duet,” Felvus said.

The Warriors responded at the plate in the bottom of the eighth. In her first game back hitting, Montana Percell had the game winning RBI with another hit into center field scoring Chelsea Voth with two outs.

The Warriors dug themselves a hole in game two, giving up five runs in the first inning. With balanced hitting throughout the lineup, they chipped away at the early lead, but they still found themselves down 10-5 going into the final inning.

Balee Shiplet knocked in Kroupa and Percell, going second to home while hobbling on a bad left leg with a single.

Felvus said Shiplet had her best offensive game of the season in game two. Shiplet went 3-for-4 with a two singles, a double, two runs, and three RBIs.

Shiplet put the Warriors in the position to win the game, which is why Felvus excused what happened next. Shiplet was caught contemplating a try for the plate. She was thrown after three tosses in the run down.

“Your fire got you in trouble this time,” Felvus said to Shiplet. “But your fire has made a lot plays.”