Six in sixth save Woodward-Granger girls

Hawks move to 16-5 with come-from-behind win Monday and pair of victories Saturday.

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W-G's Carli Major scores on a wild pitch with Dalaney Bice (at left) at bat as Ogden pitcher Kennedy Kruse hopes for a throw.

WOODWARD — The penchant of the Woodward-Granger softball team to come from behind and snatch victory from their opponent was on full display again Monday as the Hawks used a six-run sixth inning to shock visiting Ogden, 8-4, in their WCC battle.

Ogden (7-11, 5-6) held a 4-2 lead before W-G (16-5, 9-0) suddenly exploded in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six times on four hits and an error to seize an 8-4 lead from which they never looked back.

The Bulldogs recorded five of their seven hits off Hawk starter Dalaney Bice in the first two innings. Two runners were stranded in the first frame, but Avery Germer singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored when Maddy Loecker singled. Courtesy runner Hannah Dutcher advanced to second on another wild pitch, eventually scoring on a Kami Wheelock single.

The Hawks halved their deficit in the second when Riley Jamison doubled down the line in right field and scored later in the frame on a RBI ground-out from Bree Lesch.

Meredith Adreon singled with two outs in the Ogden fifth, with Ashton Boggess lining her fourth home run of the season over the fence in center field for a 4-2 Bulldog lead.

W-G countered with a run in their half of the fifth when Carli Major singled, moved up on a wild pitch and sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch.

Bice retired the side in order in the sixth with help from her defense as right fielder Maggi Mallon made an over-the-shoulder grab near the fence to rob Denali Loecker of at least two bases.

Miranda Aunspach started the W-G comeback with a double to open the home half of the sixth. A Meagan Bandstra base hit followed, with Mallon’s double plating Aunspach. A Mallon double, an error with Kendra Husmann batting and a sacrifice fly pushed the hosts into a 6-4 lead.

W-G outfielder Maggi Mallon robs Ogden's Denali Loecker of extra bases Monday with this basket catch just in front of the right field fence.
W-G outfielder Maggi Mallon robs Ogden’s Denali Loecker of extra bases Monday with this basket catch just in front of the right field fence.

The rally continued with Jamison reached on a fielder’s choice and trotted home when Bice unloaded her 10th home run of the season, the 45th of her career.

Ogden could not respond in their final at-bat, allowing W-G to remain unblemished in conference play.

Kennedy Kruse suffered the loss, yielding eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out four.

Bice allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out three.

The Hawks were coming off a pair of wins Saturday in the Phil Creese Classic. W-G topped Pekin (6-10) by a 6-3 final before handing Saydel (14-5) a 2-0 loss. Saydel was a 4-0 winner over Pekin in the other game at the classic.

Dalaney Bice pitches as Kaycee Major readies herself on defense.
Dalaney Bice pitches as Kaycee Major readies herself on defense.

Pekin grabbed a 2-0 lead in the Saturday’s first game, but W-G tied the game with a pair of their own, then scored four times in the sixth to open a 6-2 margin. The Panthers scored once in the top of the seventh but it was not enough as the hosts prevailed.

Jamison tossed six frames, surrendering three runs (one earned) on nine hits while fanning two. Bice had one strikeout in recording the final three outs.

Bice hit two doubles and a home run while driving in four runs to power the Hawk offense. Jamison was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs while Mallon was 2-for-4 with a double and Meagan Bandstra 2-for-4 as well. Kaycee Major, Carli Major and Kayley Dresback also had hits for the hosts.

W-G scored once in the first and once in the third in notching the 2-0 win over Saydel, with Bice limiting the Eagles to four hits and three walks while striking out two.

Bice had a triple and a solo home run, with Bandstra and both Kaycee and Carli Major adding hits. Courtesy runner Katelyn Bandstra took Bice’s place on third base after the latter had tripled, scoring when Bree Lesch singled.

W-G will travel to Des Moines Christian for a WCC twin bill today, with a varsity doubleheader at West Central Valley on tap for Thursday.

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