LE GRAND - Haley Long and Mariah Fritz combined to throw a perfect game as the East Marshall softball team defeated South Hardin 10-0 in six innings on Thursday.
Long handled the first five innings in the circle for the Class 3A No. 5-ranked Mustangs, striking out five. Fritz closed out the perfect game by throwing a three-up, three-down, sixth inning.
Taylor Fricke led the East Marshall bats with a 3-for-4 night.
Katie Roseland had a two-run home run. It was the 12th homer of the year for the junior standout and matches the most of any player in Iowa high school softball coming into Thursday's play.
Abby Nuese finished 2-for-4 with a triple for the conference leaders. Alyssa Whitmore went 2-for-4 with two doubles.
The Mustangs (21-1, 11-0 NICL West) have games with Bondurant-Farrar (2:45 p.m.) and Marshalltown (6:15 p.m.) today at MHS' Bobcat Classic. The two-day tournament is held at the Marshalltown Community College softball fields.
Fact Box
NICL West Softball Standings
East Marshall 11-0
BCLUW 10-1
AGWSR 7-4
Gladbrook-Reinbeck 5-6
West Marshall 4-7
South Tama 3-8
Grundy Center 2-9
South Hardin 2-9
Thursday's Games
BCLUW 12, Grundy Center 1
East Marshall 10, South Hardin 0
Gladbrook-Reinbeck 3, South Tama 2
AGWSR 6, West Marshall 4
Thursday's victory was the 100th career win for East Marshall head coach Jary Hoskey.
South Hardin is now 2-9 in NICL West action. The Tigers face West Marshall (1 p.m.) and Marion (2:45 p.m.) today at the Bobcat Classic.
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BCLUW 12, Grundy Center 1
GRUNDY CENTER - Kendall Scurr went 3-for-3 with three stolen bases in Class 2A No. 10 BCLUW's five-inning NICL West victory on Thursday.
Mallory Vawter added two hits and two RBIs, while Sarah McCoy and Courtney Amundson both had two hits for the Comets (18-7, 10-1). Nicolette Simpson went all five innings in the pitching circle, allowing one run on three hits, striking out five.
Josie McMartin had a single and RBI for the host Spartans. BCLUW squares off against Colfax-Mingo (1 p.m.) and Roland-Story (4:30 p.m.) today at Marshalltown's Bobcat Classic. Grundy Center (2-9 NICL West) travels to West Marshall on Monday.
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Gladbrook-Reinbeck 3, South Tama 2
TAMA - Paige Thompson had a double, two RBIs and held South Tama to one earned run from the pitching circle on Thursday.
Kayla Holbach and Amber Berendes both had a hit for the Rebels (9-12, 5-7 NICL West).
Thompson walked one, struck out four and allowed seven hits.
Jenn Maus of STC held G-R to three hits, walked three and struck out five. Sarah Holtz and Madison Baack had two hits apiece for the Trojans (6-15, 3-8).