COBB — The Iowa–Grant softball team inched closer to the 2017 SWAL conference title with a dominating 12–2 win over visiting Darlington Monday afternoon.
Coach Deanna Fulton’s Panthers improved to 12–1 on the season and 10–0 in the Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League, three full games ahead of second-place Southwestern (13–5, 7–3 SWAL) with just four games to play. I–G pounded Southwestern 18–7 last Tuesday.
Iowa–Grant can clinch the conference crown with a win at Fennimore on Thursday. I–G will travel to Viroqua on Saturday before hosting Cuba City in another conference game on Monday.
Sophomore Lexi Busse went 3-for-3 with three RBIs in Monday’s win. Senior Maranda McCarthy (12–1) also went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and picked up her 12th win of the season in the pitcher’s cirlce, striking out six in the five-inning victory.
Junior Katie Olson went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs in Thursday’s 18–2 win at Riverdale.
The hot-hitting Panthers, who have averaged 16 runs a game during their recent three-game winning streak since suffering their first loss of the season 3–1 at Belmont on April 25.
Iowa–Grant 18, Southwestern 7
(from Tuesday, May 2 @ Hazel Green)
Iowa–Grant 661 50 — 18 16 1
Southwestern 511 00 — 7 9 2
Leading hitters — IG: Emma Liddicoat 2x4, Katie Olson 3x4, Maranda McCarthy 2x3, Lexi Busse 4x4; S: Katie Fritz 3x4, Chloe Riniker 2x3. 2B — IG: McCarthy 2, Busse, Spurley; S: Hanna Hinman. 3B — IG: Liddicoat.
W — Maranda McCarthy (10–1, 7IP, 9H, 7ER, 7K, 5BB). L — Mya Runde (4IP, 12H, 14R, 10ER, 2K, 5BB).
Iowa–Grant 18, Riverdale 2
(from Thursday, May 4 @ Muscoda)
Iowa–Grant 371 50 — 18 21 1
Riverdale 200 00 — 2 1 2
Leading hitters — IG: Taylor Liddicoat 2x2, Emma Liddicoat 3x4, Hannah Stevens 3x5, Katie Olson 4x4, Maranda McCarthy 2x3 2B — IG: McCarthy 2, E. Liddicoat. 3B — IG: Stevens.
W — Maranda McCarthy (11–1, 4IP, 1H, 2R, 2ER, 6K, 1BB). L — Klebesadel (2.2IP, 14H, 13R, 13ER, 1K, 4BB).
Iowa–Grant 12, Darlington 2
(from Monday, May 8 @ Cobb)
Darlington 002 00 — 2 4 1
Iowa–Grant 122 61 — 12 15 1
Leading hitters — D: McDonald 2x3; IG: Emma Liddicoat 2x4, Malery Peat 3x4, Maranda McCarthy 3x3, Lexi Busse 3x3, Olivia Liddicoat 2x3 2B — IG: E. Liddicoat, Busse, O. Liddicoat. 3B — IG: McCartney.
W — Maranda McCarthy (12–1, 7IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 6K, 2BB). L — Paulson (4.2IP, 15H, 12R, 8ER, 1K, 0BB).