(Oakland, IA) – In Western Iowa Conference action on Monday, we were gifted a tight matchup between the Riverside Bulldogs and Audubon Wheelers in softball play. While Audubon was able to come out on top 5-4, it was still a close game all the way down to the bottom of the seventh inning.
Scoring didn’t start until the top of the second inning after Audubon was able to see Taryn Petersen walk to first base followed by a Michelle Brooks single to put two runners on with no outs. While both Addie Hocker and Zoey Rasmussen struck out to put two outs on the board, it was all up to Gemini Goodwin. The senior was able to put out a perfect single to bring in both Petersen and Brooks and put the Wheelers ahead 2-0. Riverside was able to battle back in the bottom of the second after some heads-up baserunning by Madison Kelly who reached on an error and was able to put herself in scoring position at second. Peyton Schafer eventually came up and knocked a high-pop fly that led to Kelly scoring at the plate and put it at 2-1.
When it came to the top of the third inning, Wheeler Jordan Porsch was able to start things off with a single while Alexis Obermeier was able to reach on a fielder’s choice to put two runners on with one out. After some heads-up baserunning by Porsch, Audubon had two on, and Addie Hocker was able to hit a captivating single and score both Obermeier and Petersen to get ahead 5-1. That is where the score would stand until the bottom of the fifth inning and Audubon would not score again from this point onward.
With one out on the board, Riverside’s Ayla Richardson was able to reach on an error with an overthrow from third and was able to reach second base. After a groundout by Kaycie Perkins, Richardson reached third base and put two down. Sophia Fenner was able to come up to the plate and earn her first hit of the ballgame with a single to put the game at 5-2.
The sixth inning was a treat for softball fans after Riverside’s Kayden Schnack was able to get on base with no outs, and after Kelly struck out, it was all up to Peyton Schafer. The eighth-grade ace in the circle knocked away her first home run in her high school career after she launched it over the left field wall on a 1-1 count. This put the Bulldogs within one heading into the seventh inning. Audubon’s Riley Miller was able to clean things up in the circle and go into the bottom of the seventh by striking out the first two batters at the plate. After walking Sophia Fenner, the freshman was able to get herself all the way to third base and put herself in scoring position. It was all up to slap hitter Elly Henderson who succumbed to the pressure and struck out for the final out of the ballgame.
Audubon Head Coach Andrea Schwery was proud of her girls for remaining composed in a tight ballgame.
Audubon’s defense had a total of three errors in the ballgame while Riverside also earned three in the game. Despite those errors, both teams played a great defensive game in the circle, behind the plate, and out on the field.
Pitching was one of the key factors in Audubon’s victory over Riverside with a combination of Alexis Obermeier and Riley Miller. Obermeier pitched in the first five innings of the ballgame while only giving up one run, striking out five batters at the plate and only giving up one hit. Riley Miller came in for relief in the sixth inning and had a total of six strikeouts while giving up just two runs off one hit.
Another key player was Michelle Brooks who went 2-4 at the plate with some great looks defensively as well. She was one of the key players, making a total of four key plays to help push the Wheelers to victory.
After Monday, Audubon sits at 12-3 while Riverside will fall to 8-7 on the season. The Wheelers will face off against Treynor on Tuesday while Riverside battles AHSTW as both games start at 7:15 p.m.
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