Spartans fall to Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN – The Spartan softballers dropped two to Marshalltown Community College Tuesday, losing 6-5 in extra innings and then falling 10-2 in five innings.

The Spartans’ offense came to life in the later stages of the game one, putting up a three-run inning in the sixth inning to take the lead 5-0.

SWCC turned around and surrendered two the following half inning and then gave up three in the seventh to push the game to extra innings.

The Spartans rolled with their ace Kelsey Tibbs into the seventh inning, but got into trouble and she was pulled after 6 2/3 innings pitched. She struck out nine while allowing five in the game.

“Through six innings Kelsey Tibbs was really good,” said head coach Nick Weinmeister. “In the seventh she didn’t execute like she needed to to finish the job off, so we brought in Ali (Enright).”

Enright faced five batters, surrendering the game-winning run in extra innings.

“Not having much offense in the top of the eighth was kind of the name of the game, there,” said Weinmeister. “Nothing really strung together enough to put a crooked number on the board.”

Klarissa McElroy went 2-for-3 and Amaya Porch went 1-2 with two walks and a run scored in game one.

In the latter half of the doubleheader, the Spartans succumbed to the big inning that has haunted them throughout the season, falling 10-2 due to an eight-run bottom of the fifth inning for the Tigers.

Enright got the start for the Spartans in game two after coming on in relief in game one, pitching four innings while striking out one and walking two.

Ella Rutherford nearly worked her way out of the fifth inning, being one out away, but could not hold off the Marshalltown offense as she allowed six earned runs while striking out two.

Weinmeister said the Tigers strung together hits and took advantage of an error, plating the necessary runs to prompt the eight-run rule to win.

“It was extremely disappointing considering we did the same thing to them a week prior,” said Weinmeister. “(We) just didn’t really have the same energy after giving up that lead in game one and ended up on the losing end. I think it took a lot more out of us than maybe we need to believe.”

UP NEXT – The Spartans (6-21, 2-8) will try to bounce back against Graceland JV Thursday. After the single game matchup Thursday, Southwestern faces North Iowa Area in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. Both Thursday and Saturday will be played at home.