Two big innings carry Wolverines to win


By Coach Heather Struve
Two six-run innings propelled the Wolverine Softball team to a 12-7 non-conference win over MMCRU on Wednesday, June 19th in Paullina.
MMCRU jumped out of the gate fast, scoring a run in the first and two more in the second to take a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, with one out and a runner on first base, Ashlynn Gunnerson ripped a double to right center to score the first run for South O’Brien and after that the bats really came to life. Reese Farquhar had an RBI single soon after and the next batter, Jinger Nieuwenhuis, scorched a three-run homer down the left field line. Allison Griebel had an RBI single to score the sixth and final run of the inning. The Wolverines were now up 6-3 after three innings of play.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth MMCRU plated a run to trim the Wolverine lead to 6-4.
In the bottom of the fifth the Wolverines went to town again with another six runs! Brooklyn Edwards and Marissa Ebel started off with back-to-back base hits. Allison Griebel drew a walk and Tawni Wulf followed it with an RBI single. In the remainder of the inning Gunnerson hit a single and Abby Nelson hit a big two-run single. South O’Brien now held a 12-4 lead.
However, MMCRU was not going away and scored three runs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 12-7. South O’Brien did not score in the sixth. The Royals loaded the bases in the top of the seventh when pitcher Edwards finally coaxed a ground ball back to herself to get the final out of the game.
This was a super team win, as every batter in the lineup had at least one hit! Gunnerson had a double and single, with two runs scored and an RBI. Nieuwenhuis hit the three-run home run. Nelson had a pair of singles, a pair of runs and a pair of RBI’s. Wulf had two singles, a run and an RBI. Farquhar, Edwards, Ebel, Griebel and Lindsey Einck all had singles. Farquhar had two RBI’s and a run. Edwards’ courtesy runner Kelsee Warnke scored once. Ebel scored two runs. Griebel’s pinch runner Addison Hedberg scored a run and Griebel had an RBI.

Edwards went the distance on the mound and got the win. She threw a very nice game, giving up seven hits and seven runs (two earned), walking three and striking out seven. Those other five unearned runs were on our defense. Part of that was probably due to not playing for five days, which is quite unusual during softball season.
The Wolverines are now 8-9 overall and 4-4 in conference play.
MMCRU
1 2 0 0 1 3 0 – 7
S. O’Brien
0 0 6 0 6 0 0 – 12