Raiderettes’ big inning downs T’Wolves

CORNING – One big inning separated Mount Ayr and Southwest Valley in a Pride of Iowa softball matchup Tuesday as the Raiderettes posted a 12-0 win in five innings of work.

Mount Ayr leadoff hitter Sam Stewart got things going for the Raiderettes in the third inning by drawing a walk.

Stewart and MaKayla Jones (pinch running for Addy Reynolds) came around to score on an Abbigail Barnes double to move Mount Ayr in front 3-0 in the top of the third.

Alexa Anderson singled to get on and Channler Henle doubled in her and Barnes to quickly catapult the Raiderettes to a 5-0 spread.

Jaycee Knight walked and freshman Payten Lambert drove her in before Reynolds stepped back to the plate and launched a two-run shot over the right-center field wall to put Mount Ayr up 10-0 and complete a nine-run inning.

The Raiderettes managed three runs in the other four innings at the plate.

“We learned a valuable lesson tonight. We didn’t get off the bus very well,” said MA head coach Bret Ruggles. “Credit to her (SWV pitcher Isabelle Inman) she kept it on the outer half with that screwball. ... Preparation is a huge thing for us.”

Southwest Valley pitcher Isabelle Inman had her stuff working for her in the early going.

Though a wild pitch allowed the first run to get home in the opening frame, Inman put together a three strikeout inning in the second frame to bring the Timberwolves to the plate.

“All in all, she did pretty good,” said SWV head coach Tara Miller. “She was doing what I asked her to, make your defense work for you.”

Abbi Peterson lined a one-out single to right field and Ryanne Mullen walked with two down, but a fly out back to Mount Ayr pitcher Caroline McAlexander ended the SWV scoring chance in the second.

Southwest Valley gave themselves opportunities over the course of the contest, leaving eight runners on base, four of which were on second.

However, the T’Wolves couldn’t manage a timely hit to move any of their threats around second base.

In the fourth, back-to-back singles from Peterson and Maggie Haer left SWV’s 8-9 hitters with the possibility to do some damage from the bottom of the lineup, but the Raiderettes escaped unscathed.

“Hopefully, we are getting there. If we just stay patient and see it out front then we’re good. We are coming around,” said Miller.

The Timberwolves also played shorthanded without several starters, who are out of the country on a class trip until late next week.

“Overall, I thought we played pretty well. ... With what we had, I’m pretty happy with what we got out of them,” said Miller. “It’s a good thing we were able to get those hits for moving forward.”

Mount Ayr had a little bit of a scare in the third inning when a comebacker caught McAlexander in the glove hand. She was removed for precautionary reasons and isn’t expected to miss any time, according to Ruggles.

“She’s fine. The ball hit her and just hyperextended her thumb back and just scared her a lot,” Ruggles said.

UP NEXT – Mount Ayr (7-0, 5-0 in the POI) is off to Earlham today (Wednesday) for a doubleheader with the Cardinals while SWV (1-7, 0-5) will turn around and host Nodaway Valley Thursday in Corning.

Mount Ayr 12, Southwest Valley 0 (5)

R  H  E

MA  109  02 —  12  8 2

SWV  000  00 —  0  5  1

MA: Caroline McAlexander 5K 1BB, Alexa Anderson (3) 0K 0BB and Abbigail Barnes. SWV: Isabelle Inman 4K 6BB 1HBP and Anna Inman. W — McAlexander (5-0). L – Inman (0-3). HR – MA: Addy Reynolds. 3B — None. 2B — MA: Barnes, Channler Henle. RBIs – MA: Barnes (2), Reynolds (2), Henle (2), Payten Lambert (2).