Baxter softball thumps Riceville

BAXTER — Junior Sydney Schmidt twirled a one-hitter in the circle and senior Jordynn Wesselink had two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored at the plate as the Baxter softball team downed Riceville, 10-0, in five innings on Wednesday night.

Schmidt allowed one hit and one walk and struck out three during the shutout win. The Bolts had eight hits total and walked three times during the Iowa Star Conference contest.

The win for Baxter was its second in a row and the third in the last four games. The win streak ended Thursday following an 11-1 road loss to Class 2A No. 12 Van Meter. The Bolts are now 8-6 overall and 6-3 in Iowa Star Conference play.

Wesselink added a walk and a stolen base to her offensive night against Riceville. Sophomore Holly Jessen had one hit, two runs, one steal, two walks and one RBI and freshman Maddie Pierce chipped in one hit, two runs and one steal. Sophomore Amber Weltha did not have a hit but collected three RBIs.

Senior Kaitlynn Kelly was 1-for-4 with a double, one run scored and one RBI. Freshman McKenzie Eslinger and sophomores Kaitlyn Headlee and Makayla Hulbert all had one hit. Headlee scored a run, Hulbert and Eslinger both had RBIs and Eslinger also stole a base.

Riceville, which also was defeated 10-0 by 1A No. 2 Collins-Maxwell on Wednesday, fell to 6-9 overall and 6-7 in conference play.

Official statistics for the Van Meter loss were not available at press time.

The Bolts host North Tama at 5 p.m. Friday in Baxter.