INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - The Independence Softball team snapped a lengthy losing streak in exciting fashion as they outlasted Labette in game one 10-8, before falling in game two 12-2.
In game one, both teams swung the bat well as the Cardinals jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead as the Pirates began to chip away, trimming the deficit to 5-2 after three frames. The Pirates were able to break through with their first crooked number in the bottom of the fourth as they plated three and tied the game up at five. After scratching another run across in the bottom half of the fifth inning, the Pirates took a slim lead into the late innings. The Cardinals answered back with a three spot in the top of the sixth, but the Pirates had one more rally in them as they saved their best for last with four runs in the sixth to take a two run lead into the final inning. Sophomore, Laci Jensen was able to bolt down the win with a clean seventh inning giving the Pirates their first victory since March 28th.
Offensively, Maddison Wammock, Na’BraiJhanae Phillips, Londyn Dempster and Taylor Nixon each had multi-hit games, while Dempster and Nixon each drove in a trio of runs.
In the circle, starter Brooklin Phillips battled for five plus innings before handing the ball off to Jensen who was spotless across the final four outs of the game.
In game two, the visitors bounced back in a big way as multi-run innings in each of the first three frames pushed the Labette lead out to 11-0. Down 12-0 in the fourth inning, the Pirates showed some life offensively as they were able to push across two runs before a lightning in the area caused the game to be suspended and resumed a day later.
The two teams returned to the field on Sunday and completed the final few outs needed for a 12-2 five inning run rule.
Phillips and Kylie Porschien drove in the two runs for the Pirates in the loss, while Londyn Dempster was effective in relief, going 2.2 innings surrendering just four hits and one run.
The Pirates now gear up for the final week of the regular season, as they will host KCKCC on Thursday, April 30th, their final home games of the season.