After winning postseason opener, Bulldogs fall in quarterfinal game
Abby Koslowski was 3-4 with one RBI in MFL MarMac’s Class 2A - Region 8 first round win over Bellevue on July 6. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Kaitlin Picha led the Bulldogs in the win over Bellevue, going 3-4 with two triples. She drove in four runs and scored twice herself.
Against Bellevue, Mackenzy Ruff allowed four runs—three of them earned—on seven hits and one walk. She also struck out five batters.
Shortstop Ashley Shaw throws to first base, securing an out in the win over Bellevue.
Lauren Kishman drops down a bun against Bellevue. She tallied two hits in the game, stole a base and had an RBI and run scored.
Morgan Jacobson races home, scoring one of the Bulldogs' 14 runs in the victory over the Comets.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac softball team’s season drew to a close last week, with a postseason loss to Northeast following a big win over Bellevue in a Class 2A - Region 8 first round game.
The Bulldogs cruised past Bellevue 14-4 in five innings on July 6. The team scored in every frame that night, starting with a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Comets cut that to 3-2 in the top of the second, before MFL MarMac responded with another run in the bottom of the inning and then six runs in the third to go up 10-2. Bellevue plated a run in both the fourth and fifth innings, but the Bulldogs kept the offensive momentum going by scoring twice in each of those innings, winning by the 10-run rule.
MFL MarMac’s offense cranked out 14 hits, including three extra base knocks. The team was busy on the base paths too, swiping six bags.
Kaitlin Picha led the Bulldogs with a 3-4 effort, hitting two triples and driving in four runs. She scored twice as well. Savannah Schaller was also 3-4 with a stolen base, three RBIs and a run scored, and Abby Koslowski was 3-4 with one RBI. Autumn Shaw finished the game 2-4, including a double, drove in a run and scored twice, while Lauren Kishman tallied two hits, stole a base and had an RBI and run scored.
The Bulldog defense was stout behind a strong pitching performance by senior Mackenzy Ruff, who allowed four runs—three of them earned—on seven hits and one walk. She struck out five batters, en route to her first victory this season.
Unfortunately, MFL MarMac had limited time to celebrate its victory, with a quarterfinal match-up the following night at Northeast, which entered the game with an overall record of 24-13 and on a nine-game winning streak.
The Rebels out-scored the Bulldogs 13-1 over four innings, including an explosive seven-run second. They tagged Ruff with 10 hits, and also reached base on two walks and two hit by pitches, in addition to taking advantage of five MFL MarMac errors. Only eight of the 13 runs that crossed home plate were earned.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, were held to just one run on one hit—a single by Koslowski. Kishman scored the only run.
MFL MarMac finished the season with an overall record of 4-31. The team was 3-11 in the Upper Iowa Conference, placing them seventh out of nine teams.
