WOODWARD — Earlham erupted for a five-run third inning en route to a 13-2 win over Woodward-Granger Monday in five innings of WCAC softball.[wpedon id=”82220″ align=”center”]
The Cardinals (3-5, 1-4) scored twice in the first inning, but the Hawks (0-9, 0-3) answered in their first at-bat when Katelyn Bandstra raced all the way to third base on a throwing error then sped home when Emma Anderson dropped down a perfect safety-squeeze bunt.
Neither team moved the scoreboard in the second, but the guests suddenly came alive in the third with three hits, a walk and an error allowing five runners to score, creating a 7-1 bulge.
Anderson singled and eventually scored off an Alissa Smeltzer RBI, but that was all the Hawks could manage.
Earlham starer Kelsey Tibbs had allowed two runs on three hits (singles from Bandstra, Anderson and Rian Jamison) and a walk to Ava Petersen while striking out one in two frames. She was relieved by Madeline Jansen, who retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced, seven via strikeout.
The Cardinals added two runs in the third, then chased Hawk starter Petersen when Alli Boyle laced a screaming grand slam over the fence in right-center for a 13-2 lead.
Petersen allowed 13 runs (11 earned) on 13 hits, two walks and hit batsman in four frames. Jamison pitched one inning, yielding a first-batter hit, but then inducing two pop-outs to catcher Anderson and a come-backer to the ring to finish the top of the fifth.
Boyle added two singles to her four-run blast and scored three times, with Taylor Hipsley 3-for-3 with a walk to spark the Cardinal attack.
W-G visits AC/GC tonight before visiting Saydel Wednesday.
