Freland’s five perfect innings lift West Marshall

The West Marshall softball team had stranded 10 runners on base by the time Colfax-Mingo registered its first baserunner, but the Trojans still had to stave off a late rally to win 4-3 during Friday's Bobcat Softball Classic in Marshalltown.

Left-handed pitcher Rachel Freland tossed 5 1/3 innings of perfect ball for West Marshall (11-15), but the Trojans had trouble finishing off their own scoring chances. Colfax-Mingo finally found its way on base and closed within 3-1 with two hits in the sixth, and three more hits led to two Tigerhawk runs in the seventh.

Colfax-Mingo had the tying run at third base when Freland induced the game-ending groundout.

Article Photos

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE
West Marshall freshman Rachel Freland delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of Friday’s game against Colfax-Mingo in the Bobcat Softball Classic in Marshalltown.

Freland struck out seven, walked none and allowed just five singles. The freshman faced the minimum number of hitters until Rachel Forschler blooped a one-out single in the sixth.

Trojan right fielder Sadie Simatovich threw out Katelyn Buehner on a potential hit leading off the fifth, and first baseman Courtney Porter nearly stole a run-scoring single with a leaping attempt on a line drive in the seventh.

With the Tigerhawks flailing on offense, West Marshall was unable to capitalize on its countless chances at the plate. The Trojans left at least two runners on base in each of the first four innings, including the bases loaded in the first and third.

McKenna Hotopp singled to start the bottom of the first and later scored on Emily Durlin's single to get the Trojans on the board, and Hotopp's second-inning single plated Karis Gibbs' pinch-runner Shelby Tichy.

Simatovich reached on an error leading off the fourth, and singles by Durlin and Porter pushed her across for a 3-0 Trojan advantage. Jennifer Davis' sacrifice fly plated Simatovich as what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

Hotopp, Durling and Porter each had two of West Marshall's nine hits in the win. Taylor Weyer added a double, while Davis and Gibbs both singled.

Marion 8, West Marshall 2

Marion scored five times in the bottom of the first inning to get the necessary leg-up on the Trojans in both team's opener on Friday.

Three of West Marshall's four hits came in the fourth inning. Durlin singled, Davis doubled, Weyer plated one with a groundout and Porter flared a run-scoring single to right.

Blair Bailey accounted for the Trojans' only other hit, a single. Hotopp took the loss in the circle.

Michalyn Mohr homered for the Indians. Winning pitcher Mikayla Goemaat struck out four in four innings for the win. Amber Fiser struck out two in three innings of perfect relief.

Roland-Story 10, South Hardin 2

The Norse erupted for five runs in the top of the seventh to salt away the 5-1 lead they took into the final frame.

Kassidy Rewoldt went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead South Hardin. Alaina Lake went 1-for-3 and drove in both Tiger runs. April Skartvedt was 2-for-3 and scored for South Hardin, which had nine hits.

Kate Shindelar took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on 16 hits. She walked two and struck out three, going all seven innings.

Marion 6, South Hardin 1

Marion pitchers Fiser and Haley Vanourney combined on a four-hitter to lead the Indians to their second win in the opening day of the Bobcat Classic.

Fiser struck out nine and walked three over six innings for the win, surrendering just two singles. Eight different players had hits for the Indians (19-12), all of which were singles.

Lake took the loss for South Hardin, going the distance in the circle. She allowed four earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts.

Lake was 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI single. Kortney Crosser, Kassidy Bunger and Rewoldt each chipped in singles for the Tigers (3-14).