DARLINGTON — The Redbirds were good to their last batter in a pair of home victories on the softball diamond last week.
    Darlington walked off with a 6-5 win over Fennimore at Sieg Field on Tuesday, May 2, when Lucy Heinberg brought home Chelsea Golackson with a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the seventh inning to sink the Golden Eagles in SWAL action.
    Then, back at Sieg Field on Friday, May 5, Reagan Roelli ripped a double to deep centerfield to drive in Hannah Kelly for the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Lady ‘Birds took down Benton/Shullsburg, 10-9, in an extra-inning non-conference contest.
    Darlington held an 8-2 advantage after scoring seven runs in the bottom of the third inning, but the Zephyr-Miners fought back to tie the game at 9-9 by scoring twice in the top of the seventh.
    Kelly went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the win over Fennimore, and she scored three times in the win over the Miner-Zephyrs. Lexi Wagner was 2-for-2 with a RBI and a run against the Eagles, and she drove in two runs against Ben/Shulls.
    Callie Norton was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI in Friday’s win. Roelli finished 2-for-5 with a double, a run and a RBI, while Bethany McDonald drove in three runs and Golackson and Tayah Paulson added doubles.
    Kelsie Goffinet was 3-for-5 with three runs scored for the Zephyr-Miners. Hannah Rennert and Morgan Emery each had two hits and two RBI for the guests, while Kindle Cook went 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run and Lydia Jones went 2-for-5 with a RBI. Savannah Hilby scored twice for Ben/Shulls.
    Paulson (6-7) picked up both wins in the pitcher’s circle of the Redbirds. Rennert took the loss in relief for the co-op.
    Darlington was unable to walk away victorious in their other two games over the past week, falling to Mineral Point, 13-2, at home on Thursday, May 4, and dropping a 12-2 five-inning decision to SWAL-leading Iowa-Grant at Cobb on Monday, May 8.
    Paulson and Roelli each tripled against the Pointers, while McDonald went 3-for-3 at the plate and Wagner doubled against the Panthers.
    Darlington has upcoming SWAL games at home against Boscobel on Thursday, May 11, at 5 p.m.; and at Riverdale on Monday, May 15, starting at 4:30 p.m.
 
Ben/Shulls… 101  041  20 –   9  14  1
Darlington…. 107  010  01 – 10    8  3
Leading Hitters: B/S– Kelsie Goffinet 3x5, Lydia Jones 2x5, Kindle Cook 2x5, Morgan Emery 2x4. 2B– McKailah Strang, Hannah Rennert, Emery. Darl– Callie Norton 2x4, Reagan Roelli 2x5. 3B– Norton. 2B– Roelli, Tayah Paulson, Chelsea Golackson.
WP- Paulson. LP- Rennert.
At Darlington, on Friday, May 5
 
Fennimore… 021  002  0 – 5  8  2
Darlington… 002  201  1 – 6  8  0
Leading Hitters: Hannah Kelly 3x4, Alexi Wagner 2x2.
WP- Paulson. LP- Kreul.
At Darlington, on Tuesday, May 2
 
Mineral Point… 010  051  6 – 13  13  0
Darlington……. 000  200  0 –   2    4  3
Leading Hitters: 3B– Tayah Paulson, Reagan Roelli.
WP- Schmitz. LP- Paulson.
At Darlington, on Thursday, May 4
 
Darlington…. 002  00 –   2    6  1
Iowa-Grant… 122  61 – 12  14  0
Leading hitters: Bethany McDonald 3x3. 2B- Alexi Wagner.
WP- McCarthy. LP- Tayah Paulson.
At Cobb, on Monday, May 8