Three unearned runs in the fourth turned a tie game into a four-run deficit for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. The Hawks couldn’t produce enough hitting to get back in the game and ultimately fell 11-1 to South O’Brien June 28 at Paullina. The Wolverines’ run in the sixth ended the game.
“We had one inning that hurt us,” noted HMS head coach Stephanie Bronstad. “We took the lead early but had some errors that hurt us and then didn’t hit the ball where needed. Taya pitched a good game, the bats just aren’t coming at the right time. The girls are playing competitive just falling short in the bats.”
In her five-plus innings within the circle, Mason gave up 11 runs on 12 hits. Eight of the runs were earned. She struck out five batters, walked three and hit two. The Hawks were guilty of five errors.
HMS scored the game’s first run in the top of the second. Darby Mastbergen singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Mastbergen than stole third. That put her in position to score on Mason’s RBI groundout to third.
Mastbergen was one of three Hawks to record hits. Cadence Klein singled with two outs in the third inning and Bailey VerHelst stroked a base hit to lead off the sixth. HMS got no help from Wolverine pitcher Grace Fuhrman who issued no walks and hit no batters.
HMS 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 1
S. O’Brien 0 1 0 4 5 1 – 11