Sweet Home softball split a pair of league games last week, losing 13-2 to Stayton on Tuesday, but besting Newport 12-5 two days later.
Stayton (10-2) got on the board early with three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. The next inning the Eagles scored three more, aided by a two RBI triple from senior Alley Rasmussen.
Sweet Home answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the third, when junior Brooke Burke singled on a ground ball to the first baseman, scoring junior Kelsie Rush. Junior Makayla Guthrie then singled on a hard ground ball to shortstop, scoring senior Maddie Harris.
With the score 6-2, Stayton blew the game open in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs. Junior Jessica Rule doubled in a run, and sophomore Brielle Kessler hit a two-run home run over the center field wall. An error and a passed ball led to the Eagles’ other two runs in the inning, scored with two outs.
Stayton struck again for two more runs with two outs in the fifth inning, again on an error and a passed ball.
A double from Burke in the bottom of the fifth wasn’t enough to kick the Husky offense back into gear, and the game ended after five innings, with the final score 13-2 Stayton.
“We did not have our ideal lineup due to illness,” Head Coach Karyn Hartsook said. “However, it was exciting to see strong leadership for kids playing positions they never had and competing to the best of their abilities.”
The Huskies fared better against Newport (3-8) on Thursday, pulling out a 12-5 victory.
Sweet Home scored five runs in the bottom of the second. Newport came back for two runs of its own in the top of the third, but
The Huskies poured on four more in their half of the inning to take a 9-2 lead. Newport scored one more run in the top of the fourth, but Sweet Home stretched its lead by three in the bottom of the sixth. Two runs tacked on by the Cubs in the final frame weren’t enough to spoil Sweet Home’s 12-5 win.
Harris, Burke, senior Chloe Fairchild, Guthrie, and sophomore Riley Watkins each had two hits in the game.
Senior Mykal Johnston led the team with three RBIs. Harris pitched five innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs while striking out five batters and allowing two walks.
“We started off slow offensively but the girls pulled it together as a team and competed at the plate,” said Assistant Coach Emily Marchbanks. “We adjusted to their defense and found ways to get on base and hit throughout our lineup.
Sweet Home, 9-2 and ranked eighth in the 4A Division at the beginning of the week, hosts Woodburn (0-6) on Wednesday, April 13 at 4:30 p.m. The Huskies then hit the road to play at Philomath (4-6) on Thursday, April 14 at 4:30 p.m.