Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn found itself down to its last time up at bat. The Hawks also found themselves with a chance to win and they seized the opportunity. Trailing Emmetsburg by three runs, HMS plated four and snatched a 7-6 win from the E-Hawks June 15 at Emmetsburg.
The Hawk seventh got off to a promising start with a double from Gracie Knobloch. Darby Mastbergen singled, with Knobloch moving up a base. Elle Mastbergen kept things rolling with a two-bagger that scored Knobloch and sent Darby Mastbergen to third. Taya Mason joined the hit parade and her single drove in Darby Mastbergen. Mason took second on the throw. Eliza Tewes followed with the Hawks’ fifth consecutive hit to plate Elle Mastbergen. Mason then came around with the go-ahead run.
“The girls played a tough game,” declared Hawk head coach Stephanie Bronstad. “They battled each inning defensively and offensively and never gave up. We had a few errors but came back with the bats. I am proud of their determination last night. Gracie pitched a good game and the defense was behind her.”
Knobloch
In her complete game victory, Knobloch allowed the six runs on nine hits. Four of the runs were earned. She fanned four batters and walked three. HMS won despite committing a total of eight errors.
The Hawks answered an opening-inning run by their Twin Lakes Conference hosts with two of their own in the second. Elle Mastbergen led off the frame with a home run to left. Mason followed with a double and went to third on a ground ball out by Tewes. Kunzman bunted her way on board before Elly Klein singled home Mason.
After the E-Hawks tallied twice in the second to take the lead, HMS came back to tie the game in the third. Knobloch walked and stole second. She advanced to third on a base hit by Elle Mastbergen and scored on Mason’s sacrifice bunt. Emmetsburg scored three runs in the fifth, two of which were unearned to take a 6-3 lead and set up the late Hawk heroics.
The winners totaled a whopping 16 hits for the game. Elle Mastbergen was 3-for-4 with the solo homer and Jessica Riedemann went 3-for-5. Mason, Elly Klein, Darby Mastbergen and Abby Kunzman were each 2-for-4 while Knobloch and Tewes each had one hit.
For the game, HMS left nine runners on base while the E-Hawks stranded eight.
HMS 0 2 1 0 0 0 4 – 7
E’burg 1 2 0 0 3 0 0 – 6