BOSCOBEL - Following a loss to Westby back on Tuesday, April 12, the Lady Bulldogs softball team has put together a three game winning streak through Monday.
On Thursday, April 14, the Darlington Redbirds came to Boscobel. The Bulldogs wasted little time jumping on the Redbirds.
Following a 1-2-3 first inning behind starting pitcher Olivia Grassel, the Bulldogs put up four runs in the bottom of the frame. Emily Johnson reached on an error with one out. Grassel followed with a single to right. Freshman Leah Wacker then drove both home with a double to center. One out later, junior Hailey Bray delivered a single, scoring Wacker. Following a walk to senior Miranda Beinborn, Allie Pickett lined a double down the line in left field to score Bray with the fourth run of the inning.
Grassel, a sophomore, took charge on the mound, shutting out Darlington the rest of the way to improve her record to 3-1 for the year.
Meanwhile, the offense continued to put up runs. In the second, junior Jayden Molzof laced a run-scoring single to score Emily Johnson. In the third, the Bulldogs pulled away with five more runs. Senior Sydney Williams started the rally with one out and single up the middle. Sophomore Danielle Ernst dropped a bunt for single. Sophomore Alyssa Davis then lined a single to score Williams. Johnson’s groundball to second scored Ernst. Grassel followed with an RBI single, scoring Davis.
Following a stolen base, Wacker’s single scored Grassel. Wacker then scored the fifth run of the inning on single by Molzof, making the final score 10-0 and improving the Bulldogs SWAL record to 3-1.
Grassel led all hitters, going 3x3, while Davis, Wacker, Molzof, and Pickett each collected two hits.
Vs. Cassville
On Friday the 15th, Cassville/River Ridge came to Boscobel for a non-conference game.
Boscobel took a solid 6-0 lead through four innings behind solid pitching from senior Sydney Williams. The Bulldogs opened the scoring with two runs in the second. One-out singles by Hailey Bray and Allie Pickett set the table for Williams, who unloaded a triple to score two. The Bulldogs picked up a single run in the third when Emily Johnson ripped a triple to open the inning and courtesy runner Rachel Yahn then scored on a sacrifice-fly to left by Olivia Grassel. Three runs in the fourth made it 6-0.
Pickett singled to open the frame, and scored on a single by Williams. Danielle Ernst bunted for a hit and Johnson then drove both Williams and Ernst home with a base hit.
The visitors, however, would not go home without a fight. They responded with seven runs in the fifth, taking advantage of two costly Bulldog errors. Williams should have been out of the inning after giving up only three runs, but errors allowed the inning to continue and the visitors took advantage.
The Bulldogs came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth. Molzof reached on an error and scored on a run-scoring groundball by Miranda Beinborn. Olivia Grassel came in to pitch, and the game continued with neither team able to put up a run through the seventh inning.
Cassville-River Ridge had an opportunity in the top of the eighth when a leadoff double and a groundball had the go ahead run at third with one out. A fly ball to left could have produced the run, but Wacker made an outstanding play to get beyond the ball, and made a strong throw to hold the runner. Sydney Williams then ended the threat with a fine catch in rightfield.
Boscobel produced the win in extra innings by pushing across a run in the bottom of the eighth. Bray walked to lead off the inning, then made an excellent base-running play advancing from first to third on an outstanding sacrifice bunt by junior Allie Pickett. Williams then delivered the game winner, scoring Bray with a solid base hit to right, bringing the score to 8-7.
The Bulldogs improved to 4-2 on the season with the win.
Vs. Fennimore
Monday, April 18th the Bulldogs traveled to Fennimore for a conference game with the Golden Eagles. The Bulldog bats were silent through five innings and an error allowed an un-earned run in the second inning, as Boscobel trailed 1-0 after five.
In the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs came up with a rally. One out walks to Alyssa Davis and Olivia Grassel put the tying run in scoring position. A groundball force out, however, made it runners at first and second with two outs. Jayden Molzof then tied the game with a sharp groundball single down the third base line to score Grassel.
A little luck and some outstanding base running then produced three runs on one swing. Hailey Bray bounced a single up the middle on a two-strike pitch to score Wacker. Molzof, running hard with two outs, rounded third and scored sliding when the throw from centerfield sailed over the catcher’s head. Bray, advancing all the way to third on the throw, was able to score when the attempt to get Molzof at the plate trickled back into the infield. The adventurous play gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead.
The Eagles mounted a threat in the bottom of the frame, putting two on with consecutive singles. Grassel then bore down and produced two force outs and a strikeout to end the threat.
Boscobel responded with four more runs in the top of the seventh. Alyssa Davis led off with a walk and advanced on a single by Danielle Ernst. Emily Johnson singled to score Davis, and Ernst scored on a groundball by Allie Pickett. Grassel drew a walk and Leah Wacker followed with a two-run double, scoring Johnson and Grassel, making the score 8-2.
Fennimore again mounted a rally, scoring a run with two outs, but the game ended on an outstanding defensive play by Hailey Bray at third base. Ranging to her left and knocking down a hard hit groundball, she was able to record the final out at third base with a strong throw.
The Bulldogs are now 4-1 in conference play and 5-2 overall.
The team faces some tough tests later this week, hosting Cuba City on Thursday and Lancaster on Friday. Both games are slated for 5 p.m. starts.
