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COLLINS — Freshman Mikayla Houge stayed unbeaten in the circle and struck out 14, sophomore Hannah Caple drove in two big insurance runs in the seventh inning and the Class 2A No. 1 Collins-Maxwell/Baxter softball team advanced to the Region 7 semifinals with a 6-2 victory over Woodward-Granger on Wednesday.
The Raiders led 3-0 early before needing three late runs to hold off a Hawk rally. It was CMB’s ninth straight win.
CMB got RBI hits by freshman Holly Jessen and junior Jordynn Wesselink in the second inning.
The Raiders (26-5) went up 3-0 in the fifth after senior Megan Ritter singled, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior Katie Camp and then scored on a sacrifice RBI flyout by Houge.
Those three runs would be enough as Houge fanned 14 in the circle and allowed just two hits with two walks. She is now 15-0 on the season.
Woodward-Granger (15-20) reached base on twice on two CMB errors in the first five innings.
The Hawks got within one in the sixth with two unearned runs. Houge stranded the bases loaded after a strikeout and a ground ball to herself.
CMB pushed its lead to two runs after a W-G error, and then Caple drove in the final two runs with a double.
The Raiders had seven hits from seven different players in the game.
Those hits came from Ritter, Camp, Houge, Caple, Jessen, Wesselink and freshman Abby Husak.
CMB is 17-2 in its last 19 games. The only two losses came against 4A programs.
The Raiders host Des Moines Christian (18-12) at 7 p.m. Friday in Collins.
The Lions have won three straight games. They advanced to the regional semifinals following an 8-6 win over Pleasantville.