BONDURANT — Unheralded Perry pushed Bondurant-Farrar harder than the hosts likely wanted to experience Wednesday, with the No. 13 Lady Jays needing a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to snatch away a 5-4 win in Raccoon River Conference softball.
B-F (10-3, 4-2) has several impressive wins this season, having defeated ADM and Winterset by identical 5-4 scores while besting Ballard, 9-4. They also own a 9-0 win over a tough 11-1 East Marshall squad.
An unearned run put B-F into a quick lead, but Perry (1-10, 0-5) did not quail, and sent four runners across the plate in the fifth to surge into a 4-1 lead.
Macy Killmer singled to start the frame, with Molly Lutmer laying down a perfect bunt single to put two runners aboard. Run-scoring singles from Cassidy Heck and Peyton Tunink followed to give the Jayettes the lead.
A Bella Nath sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base, with the number-nine hitter in the lineup — freshman Taylor Atwell — coming through with a two-run base hit for a three-run Perry lead.
Perry head coach Tina Lutterman praised the bunts of Killmer and Nath, as well as the clutch hitting from others, noting the Jayettes played fearlessly.
That chased starter Lauren Osborn for eighth-grader Jacki Baas, who induced a ground out and fly out to end the rally.
As most good teams will, B-F responded to adversity at once, with two two-out singles and an all-safe fielder’s choice loading the bases. A critical error allowed two runs to score, with a passed ball tying the game.
Now tied at 4-all — and with all B-F runs unearned — Perry tried to pull out the win. Atwell had been stranded at third base in the fifth, with Killmer walking but then being left at second base in the sixth.
Clean-up hitter Katleyn Lappe had already reached on an error and hit a double before coming up big with one out in the sixth by hitting a 2-0 pitch over the fence for a 5-4 B-F lead.
Megan Murphy singled but was thrown out trying to steal by Tunink. A Kaylee Seitzer double followed, but Perry pitcher Jayna Kenney induced a ground ball to end the inning.
Atwell hit a two-out double in the seventh as the Jayettes tried to tie the game, but Baas forced a ground out to end the game.
Osborn went 4-1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on six hits while striking out three. Baas went 2-2/3 frames, walking one batter and striking out one.
Kenney was touched for five runs (one earned) on 10 hits. She struck out two, walked one and hit one.
Perry hosts Ballard tonight and Winterset Tuesday. They will travel to Woodward-Granger July 9, then play a final home game July 10 when Collins-Maxwell visits.
