April 25, 2024

Hawks softball team splits DH with Dutch

By Dustin Turner

Lynnville-Sully sophomore pitcher Madison Rasmusson delivers a pitch in the fourth inning of the Hawks' loss to the Dutch. She took the loss in the first game, but came in for the save in the second game of the doubleheader on Thursday. (Dustin Turner)

SULLY — The Lynnville-Sully softball team took on Pella in a scheduled doubleheader on Thursday afternoon, and they split the contests with the Dutch.

In the first game, the Dutch were able to snap Hawk pitcher Madison Rasmusson’s scoreless streak at 14 innings. The Dutch put up a four-spot on Rasmusson in the fourth inning, bringing her impressive stretch to start the year to a close.

The game opened with a three-run first inning rally for the Hawks, which on most days would have been all they needed. First baseman, junior Shaylin Lukehart, along with second baseman, junior Jade Van Rees, each picked up RBI for the Hawks in that first inning. Rasmusson scored a run, as did eighth grader Brenna Lanser and sophomore shortstop Shelby Davis to tally up the three-run advantage.

The Dutch then piled up base hits on Rasmusson in the fourth inning to take the one-run lead. The Hawks’ offense was stifled for the remainder of the game, and the Dutch picked up two more insurance runs, one of which was unearned, in the top of the seventh to bring the game to its final score of 6-3.

The Hawks picked up seven hits on the offensive side of the ball. Rasmusson went 2-for-4. Lanser also went 2-for-4, and she also snagged a stolen base. Davis went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and a walk. Van Rees went 1-for-3 with a single, and the final hit for the Hawks belonged to sophomore third baseman Lasandra James.

The Hawks followed their first loss of the season by sneaking past the Dutch with a 4-3 win in the second leg of the doubleheader. Eighth grader Emma Schnell picked up the victory in her first start of the season. She pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs, none of which were earned. She also struck out six. Rasmusson came on in the seventh inning to pick up the save.

Yet again, the Hawks leaped out to a 3-0 advantage, this time by putting up a three-spot in the third inning. Those runs came on three straight RBI by Lanser, Davis and junior catcher Becca Vos. The Hawks picked up their fourth run on a Pella error in the following inning. They were able to sustain a three-run outburst by the Dutch in the top of the sixth, and Rasmusson came on in the seventh to polish off the victory.

The Hawks’ offense featured six hits, half of which were for extra bases. Davis racked up two triples for her two hits in three at-bats. Vos had a double in her three at-bats. Rasmusson did not get a hit, but she scored one of the four runs for the Hawks. Lukehart went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Van Rees grabbed two hits in her three at-bats. The remaining runs were scored by junior left fielder Kristal Beyer and freshman Kasiah Ehresman, who also stole a base.

The Hawks’ softball team will try to continue its hot start to the season as it takes on Tri-County tonight at 6:00 p.m.