Hawkettes Beat Orient-Macksburg, 6-5

EG COMES FROM BEHIND FOR THE WIN

A double-play with one out in the top of the seventh inning preserved a come-from-behind softball win for East Greene, 6-5, over Orient-Macksburg on Thursday, June 30, in Grand Junction.

The Hawkettes trailed 4-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but a combination of hits, walks and Orient-Macksburg fielding errors sparked a five-run EG rally to put the Hawkettes ahead, 6-5.

In the top of the sixth inning, an OM RBI triple drove in a run, cutting the lead to 6-5 with one out. EG pitcher Hannah Onken then got the next batter to deliver a little blooper to the pitcher’s mound which Onken threw to first baseman Jolee Wessling for the out. Wessling then fired the ball to catcher Katlynn Gannon, who tagged out the runner advancing from the third to home base, putting the cap on a nifty double play, ending the game and preserving the 6-5 win.

It was a big turnaround for the Hawkettes, who were blasted by the same OM team, 13-1, in 3 innings on June 14 in Orient.

The win snapped a six-game EG losing streak and moved the Hawkettes to 2-8 in the Rolling Hills Conference and 3-12 overall.

The Hawkettes were in action the night before, taking on Van Meter of the West Central Conference in Grand Junction, falling to the Bulldogs, 12-0 in 6 innings.

Van Meter blasted 15 hits while the Hawkettes added to their woes with 8 errors. EG had held the Bulldogs, ranked two weeks ago in the Class 1A Top 15, to a 6-0 lead through five innings, but a 6-run sixth inning doubled the score. EG was held scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, ending the game by the 10-run rule. (Van Meter fell out of the rankings issued June 24.)

East Greene got 3 hits against the Bulldogs with Emily Jacobsen rapping a solid double into centerfield. Dani Hubbard was 3-4 and had 5 stolen bases for Van Meter.

The Hawkettes travel to Coon Rapids tonight to face Coon Rapids-Bayard in an 8 p.m. tilt and then return to Dutton Field in Grand Junction on Tuesday, July 5, to take on Glidden-Ralston at 5:30 p.m. in the conference and season finale.

EG will open regional play the following night in Grand Junction against Ar-We-Va (Westside) in a first round game. Game time is 7 p.m.