Grand View Christian too much for Baxter softball

BAXTER — McKenzie Eslinger homered and Holly Jessen had three hits, but Baxter's softball team lost 16-5 to Grand View Christian on Thursday night.

The Bolts had seven hits but committed six errors and Kinley Bethards walked seven in the circle to help the Thunder, who improved to 14-7.

Baxter trailed 6-0 after three innings. Bethards and the defense got out of bases-loaded situatons in the third and fourth innings before the Thunder plated three in the fifth, three in the sixth and four in the seventh.

The Bolts (6-5) avoided the mercy rule on Eslinger's two-run homer in the sixth inning. Kaitlyn Headlee also had a two-run single in the seventh.

Jessen singled in the first, singled and scored in the fourth and had a two-out infield single in front of the Eslinger home run in the sixth.

Before the sixth and seventh innings, the only other base runners came on a walk by Headlee in the fourth and a double Hannah Jones in the fifth.

In the seventh, Lilie Vansice and Bethards drew back-to-back two-out walks, Maddie Pierce loaded the bases with an infield single and Headlee drove in two with a single to right.

Bethards took the loss in the circle. She pitched all seven innings and allowed 15 hits while striking out one.

The Bolts open Class 1A regional play against BGM at 7 p.m. on Monday in Baxter.