Softball splits with Lyons; falls twice to Hoisington
Sports reporter
After losing four in a row, and seven of eight, the Marion-Florence/Peabody-Burns Warriors won their second straight game May 2 with a 7-6 victory at Lyons.
"We were ahead and they kept widling at the lead," head coach Charlotte Waner said. "Instead of losing it and mentally breaking down, we held on to win."
It started with a four-run first inning, something to which the Warriors are not accustomed, usually being forced to come back after a slow start.
This time with one out, Austin Percell reached on an error, Kari Tajchman followed with a walk and Allie Maddox single. After Erica Geis popped out to third, Kara Holt reached on an error, and Lauren Helmer doubled. By the time Morgan Cady flew out to end the inning, the Warriors had scored four runs before the Lions had even stepped up to the plate.
After yielding a run in the bottom of the first, the Warriors came right back with two runs in the second. Lana Carroll, Percell, and Maddox all doubled in the inning en route to taking a 6-1 lead.
Lyons then scored a run in the third and two in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 6-4. The score remained the same until the Warriors came to bat in the sixth.
After Percell recorded her second hit of the game with a single, Maddox hit her third double of the day to give MFPB the insurance run it would need.
The Lyons scored two runs off pitcher Sonja Steinborn in the bottom of the inning, but the Warriors held on for the victory, 7-6.
Maddox and Helmer were 3-4 in the day, and Carroll 3-3.
Steinborn recorded the victory on the mound pitching all seven innings, striking out four, and giving up just two earned runs.
"I was glad we came out and hit well," Waner said. "It was an exciting game to watch."
The victory improved the Warriors' league and overall record to 5-9.
In game two the Lions took a 1-0 lead in the first, and put the game out of reach early with a six-run second inning.
MFPB did manage 12 hits, but scored just four runs, losing 13-4.
Maddox had a team-high three hits, while Morgan Cady, Geis, and Tajchman each had two.
Hoisington
The Warriors tangled Friday with powerhouse Hoisington on the road. MFPB took the lead in the first with one run, but it didn't last long as the Cardinals tied it in the bottom half and took the lead for good with a run in the third.
Two more in the fourth, and four more in the fifth increased the lead to 8-1, as HHS went on to win 10-5.
Six players combined for the team's six hits, with Tajchman's double the only extra-base hit.
Steinborn walked none, struck out one, and surrendered four earned runs in the loss.
The bats went silent in the second game, with Steinborn recording the only hit of the game for the Warriors, as they fell 9-0.
Despite the losses Waner thought her team did well against a powerhouse like Hoisington.
"I was proud of how they played because they had two solid defensive games back-to-back," she said. "We hit the ball hard, it was just right to people."
The two losses gave MFPB a 5-11 record heading into its final doubleheader of the season Tuesday against Smoky Valley. Results were not available at press time.
The Warriors will play Tuesday in a regional tournament at Augusta.
