Sweet Home’s softball team split a pair of games in its opening week, besting Molalla (0-2) on the road 7-5 on March 15, but then losing 6-3 to Madras (1-0) at home two days later.
Against the Indians, Sweet Home got up 2-0 in the third inning after Makayla Guthrie singled to center field, scoring Brooke Burke, and Joceyln Fairchild singled to right field, scoring Trinity Victor.
Sweet Home tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning. Burke doubled to score Adisen Graber and Riley Watkins. Then Burke scored after Kelsie Rush laid down a bunt and reached on an error by the Molalla first baseman.
After six innings, though, Molalla had clawed its way back into the game, bringing the score to 5-4 Sweet Home. But the Huskies tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to help secure the lead. Watkins scored due to an errant throw by Molalla, and Aubrey Newberry singled to right field to score Graber.
Guthrie got the win in the circle for the Huskies, surrendering five runs on ten hits over seven innings, striking out ten.
Brenna Jackson took the loss for Molalla, pitching seven innings and allowing nine hits and seven runs while striking out seven.
Graber, Fairchild, and Watkins each collected two hits to lead the Huskies.
Against Madras, Sweet Home was able to knot the game at one in the bottom of the third inning when Guthrie singled to knock in a run. But the White Buffalo answered back emphatically with five runs in the fourth inning.
Sweet Home scored two in the fifth after Burke crossed home on a passed ball and Rush scored on a single by Graber, but Madras had scored enough runs in the big fourth frame to secure the victory.
Guthrie was again in the circle for the Huskies and pitched another complete game, allowing six runs on nine hits and striking out four.
Hope King pitched for Madras, allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking one.
Burke went 3-4 at the plate to lead Sweet Home in hits.
This week the Huskies hit the road for two games, playing Marist Catholic (1-1) at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21 and Junction City (2-0) at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 24.
See more photos in our online gallery.