MFL MarMac softball team picks up first win of the season
MFL MarMac’s Lauren Kishman tags a Hudson runner out at third base, while teammate Ashley Shaw looks on. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Kaitlin Picha singled and scored a run in the Bulldogs’ 8-2 loss to Hudson on June 3.
Lauren Haberichter pitches during the Bulldogs' match-up with Hudson.
Savannah Schaller heads to first base.
Shortstop Ashley Shaw tags out a Hudson runner at second base.
Mackenzy Ruff hurls in a pitch late in the game against Hudson.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac softball team won its first game of the season last week—a highlight amid a tough stretch of non-conference losses.
The Bulldogs started the week May 31, losing 10-1 at Decorah. The team pushed its only run across in the sixth inning, but by then it was too late to catch the Vikings, who cranked out 11 hits despite striking out 12 times at the hands of Bulldog pitcher Lauren Haberichter. Only seven of Haberichter’s runs were earned.
Ashley Shaw had two of MFL MarMac’s hits, and Jordyn Jones snagged the other. Haberichter drove in a run, while Ayla Gerndt scored once.
Next up for the Bulldogs was a June 2 doubleheader at North Fayette Valley. The TigerHawks started strong in game one, scoring three runs in the first inning and twice in the second. MFL MarMac inched closer with a three-run third and got within one run in the sixth, but lost 5-4.
Abby Koslowski was 1-4 in the game, including a double, and knocked in two runs. Shaw went 1-4 with a run scored, while Abby Schellhorn picked up an RBI and scored once.
In six innings, Haberichter allowed seven hits and two walks, but only two earned runs. She struck out nine batters.
Game two went much better for the Bulldogs, who cruised past NFV 15-7. MFL MarMac batters racked up 12 hits and four walks, in addition to stealing six bases. They did much of their damage in the fourth inning, cranking out seven runs.
Lauren Kishman went 3-6, collecting three RBIs and two runs scored. Shaw was 2-4 with a walk and scored three times, while Mackenzy Ruff was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Savannah Schaller’s stat line included two singles, an RBI and a run scored.
Haberichter pitched three and two-thirds innings for the Bulldogs, giving up three hits, two walks and one hit batter. Two runs crossed the plate while she was on the mound, but neither was earned. She whiffed nine TigerHawk batters. Ruff pitched the other three and one-third innings, allowing five runs—none of them earned—on six hits and one walk.
MFL MarMac was back in action June 3, losing 8-2 in a home match-up against Hudson. The Pirates amassed 14 hits and eight stolen bases in the victory, and scored six of their runs in the first two innings, putting the Bulldogs down early.
Most of the damage came against Haberichter, who surrendered 12 hits and two walks, while striking out seven batters, over five and one-third innings. Six of the eight runs were earned. Ruff followed that up with one and two-thirds innings, giving up three hits and one walk.
Haberichter and Kishman each had a hit and an RBI for the Bulldogs. Kaitlin Picha singled and scored a run.
MFL MarMac wrapped up the week with a June 4-5 tournament at North Fayette Valley, losing all four of its games.
The Bulldogs lost the opener 17-0 to Charles City, who put the game away with an 11-run fourth inning. The Comets tallied 12 hits, four walks and eight stolen bases, and also took advantage of four MFL MarMac errors.
MFL MarMac had just one hit in the game, from Ruff, but walked four times.
Game two was a 9-2 loss to Maquoketa Valley, who erupted for seven runs in the first inning and put the contest out of reach early. The Wildcats had only six hits, but benefitted from seven free passes and six stolen bases.
Ruff took the loss for MFL MarMac, allowing six hits, four walks and eight runs over two-thirds of an inning. Haberichter gave up two hits and one walk over the remaining three and one-third innings. One run scored while she was on the mound, but it was unearned. She also racked up seven strikeouts.
Ayla Gerndt was the Bulldogs’ offensive leader, going 2-3. Kishman doubled and scored both runs.
Game three was a tough battle for the Bulldogs, who narrowly lost to Osage, 3-2, in extra innings. MFL MarMac took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but the Green Devils tied it up in the top of the seventh, before pushing the winning run across in the eighth.
The Bulldogs had just two hits in the game, including one from Haberichter and one from Schellhorn, but made them count. Ruff picked up an RBI, and Kishman and Kaylee Walch, who also stole a base, each scored a run.
Haberichter had a stellar game on the mound, giving up only five hits and three runs—all unearned—in seven innings. She struck out a whopping 14 Osage hitters.
MFL MarMac wrapped up the tournament with a close 6-5 loss to Independence. The Mustangs led 6-0 after just the first two innings. The Bulldogs then fought back, trimming the lead to one after a two-run fourth and three-run fifth, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Ruff took the loss, allowing six hits, one walk and six earned runs over one inning. Haberichter pitched five innings, giving up just two hits and racking up 10 strikeouts.
Offensively, MFL MarMac netted five hits and two walks, but struck out 11 times. Picha doubled, drove in two runs and scored once, while Ruff and Emily Hendrickson-Troester each singled and scored a run.
The Bulldogs will look to get back on track this week, with home doubleheaders against Kee on June 7 and Postville on June 9. They’ll play in a tournament at Riceville over the weekend.
