Bulldog softball team picks up second win of season
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac softball team persevered through a 1-5 week, earning their second victory of the season in a weekend tournament at West Delaware.
Action began at Turkey Valley on June 14, where the Trojans swept an Upper Iowa Conference doubleheader. Although the Bulldogs cranked out a six-run first inning in the opener, they surrendered six runs to Turkey Valley in the bottom of the frame. The Trojans continued to add on and won 12-9.
Bulldog designated hitter Grace Palas singled and drove in three runs. She also crossed the plate once herself. Garnett Niedziejko was 1-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Emme Wikner singled twice, walked and drove in a run, while also scoring once.
The Trojans put up seven hits and walked five times against MFL MarMac pitchers Emily Hendrickson-Troester and Lauryn Sandstrom. Eight of the 12 runs scored against the two were earned.
Turkey Valley relied on three big innings—with three runs each in the first and second and five in the third—to defeat MFL MarMac 11-8 in game two.
Wikner was responsible for four of the eight RBIs, after doubling and tripling. She also scored a run. Jerica Wille was 2-2 with an RBI and run scored, while Ayla Gerndt singled, swiped two bases and scored a pair of runs.
The Bulldogs wrapped up the week at the West Delaware Hawk Invite, dropping the first game 15-4 against the host team. The Hawks earned just six hits, but walked three times and reached base five more times on errors. Four of the 15 runs scored against Hendrickson-Troester and Sandstrom were unearned.
Kacie Picha led the MFL MarMac offense with a hit, stolen base, two RBIs and a run scored. Hendrickson-Troester helped her cause with an RBI single and also crossed the plate once. Autumn Shaw singled, walked and drove in a run.
Big innings continued to haunt the Bulldogs in the second game of the tournament, as Monticello erupted with seven runs in the first, six in the second and four in the third to win 17-2.
Niedziejko accounted for one of MFL MarMac’s three hits and plated two runs. Wikner and Hannah Jacobson each singled.
The Bulldogs had a big inning of their own—a seven-run fourth—in the next match-up against North Fayette Valley, but it wasn’t enough to catch the TigerHawks in a 15-8 loss.
Wikner had a 3-4 game with a stolen base, RBI and run scored. Niedziejko and Kaitlin Picha each knocked in two teammates on a single and scored one run apiece. Katelyn Gerndt singled twice and had an RBI and run scored.
MFL MarMac closed out the tournament with an 8-7 win over Cedar Rapids Washington. Trailing 7-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bulldogs mounted five runs to tie the game, then scored the victory with one more in the sixth.
Wikner tallied four RBIs on two doubles, walked once and scored a run. Wille was 1-2 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Katelyn Gerndt singled, doubled and drove in a run. Niedziejko’s stat line included two hits, one RBI and two runs scored.
Now 2-16 overall and 0-6 in conference play, the Bulldogs hope to add to the win column this week. They hosted Kee for a doubleheader on June 17, then will head to South Winneshiek for a twin bill on June 19. The team will play at Central City June 21, then participate in a tournament at Dunkerton the next day.
