The Marshalltown softball team started off a busy week with a pair of defeats, falling in both games of a doubleheader against Ames on Monday.
The Little Cyclones, who fell out of the Class 5A rankings last week, improved to 4-0 in Iowa Alliance Conference North Division play with wins of 12-2 and 4-1. Ames has won 16 straight in the series.
Marshalltown (3-5, 2-2) led briefly in the second game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Bella Avise reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Kate Sandvick’s double to the gap.
Ames (7-2) got the lead right back in the bottom half with two unearned runs, highlighted by Kyra Anderson’s RBI single. The Little Cyclones kept up the offense, scoring at least once in five of six at-bats, finishing the game early by sending eight batters to the plate in the sixth. A four-run surge sent the game to its mercy-rule ending.
Josie Theilen allowed just three hits from the circle for Ames, giving up one walk while striking out three. She also drove in four runs to help her own cause. Mya Geffre was 4-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs.
Briley Danielson doubled and Ava Kusserow added a single for MHS, which committed three errors. Danielson took the loss, allowing eight runs — six earned — on eight hits and one walk, striking out one in four innings.
Ames got a 4-1 triumph in the opener. Sydney Smalley held MHS to five hits as she pitched all seven innings for the win, allowing two walks while striking out six.
Karsyn Price pitched all six frames for the Bobcats, allowing just one earned run on five hits and two walks, striking out one. Both Marshalltown errors led directly to runs for the Little Cyclones.
Three of Marshalltown’s five hits came consecutively in the top of the sixth, but amassed just one run. Avise, Laney Danielson and Briley Danielson all singled, but the Bobcats’ spark was extinguished on a play at the plate.
Price had Marshalltown’s other two hits in the loss.
The Bobcats’ nine-game week continues Wednesday with a doubleheader at Des Moines East.