Panthers defeat Bearcats with 3-run sixth

OSKALOOSA — Creston earned their 16th win of the season, and second win of the day, against North Butler (7-9, 5-5 North of Iowa East) on Saturday with a 6-2 final.

“Good win,” coach Mike McCabe said. “I told the kids we’ve come over here a lot of times with some pretty good teams and not too often have we walked away with a couple wins.”

Nine Panthers tallied hits in the box score and both Halle Evans and Morgan Driskell had two hits, and Driskell also had a home run.

The top of the order, comprised of Gracie Hagle, Jersey Foote and Nevaeh Randall combined for two hits, a double for Foote and a late game triple for Randall.

“The story of that game was the top of our order struggled a little bit,” McCabe said. “We had some other kids in other parts of the order step up big and make some plays for us defensively and on the offense side.”

Jersey Foote was the first to score for Creston after Driskell’s top of the first inning single drove her home.

Taryn Fredrickson was in the circle for Creston and struck out six, allowed five hits and walked three.

Driskell hit a home run into right field in the top of the third inning which brought her and Randall home.

The Bearcats got their two runs in the bottom of the fifth when starting North Butler pitcher Kiya Johnson drove her and Haley Freesemann home.

“After we let them back in by throwing it around, we came back in the bottom of our order and got it done,” McCabe said. “Halle led off with a base hit, Anna (Mikkelsen) beats out a bunt, Jacy (Kralik) moves them both over and Ava comes in, pinch hits and gets a two-run triple. Gracie then follows that up with a sacrifice fly.”

Creston plays a doubleheader tonight at St. Albert (7-13, 4-7 Hawkeye 10).

The Panthers have won the prior 15 meetings between the two schools.