MARTENSDALE — Woodward-Granger softball head coach Jessica Wyant has been asking her team not to wait until later in games to become aggressive, and to instead attack early — and, if possible — in multiple innings.
On Tuesday she received just that from her squad, as W-G crossed the plate in four frames and had runners in scoring position in two others to spark a 10-3 win over host Gilbert. The non-conference victory lifted the Hawks to 4-4 overall while the Tigers fell to 3-2.
“I have challenged them to come out of the gate fast and tonight we did,” Wyant told ThePerryNews. “We had a great approach at the plate and our defense stepped it up in the field.”
W-G scored four times in the first, then countered two Gilbert runs in the bottom of the frame with three second-innings runs to stake themselves to a 7-2 lead. Two tallies in the fourth and a final run in the fifth pushed the margin to 10-2, with the hosts crossing the dish once in the sixth to cap the scoring.
“It is hard to ask for much more when they are doing exactly what we are asking of them,” Wyant said. “We still have a long way to go to get to the level we want to be at, but we are taking steps in that direction and I like the attitude I am seeing from the girls.”
Ava Petersen belted a solo home run and added a pair of base hit while scoring twice and driving in a run to lead the attack. Georgia Simmons had two singles, a double and two RBIs, with Emma Anderson producing a single, a double, three runs and three stolen bases. The Hawks are now fourth in Class 2A with 33 total thefts.
Rian Jamison had two singles, with Katleyn Bandstra, Brylee Bice and Audrey Simmons adding hits. Audrey Simmons drove in four runs and scored twice, with Allie Moore having a run and a RBI while Jamison plated a run. Courtesy runner Libby Grell crossed the plate twice in the win,
Jamison allowed just five hits and a walk in seven innings in the ring. She surrendered three runs, one of which was unearned, and was credited with four strikeouts.
Gilbert pitcher Halli Nissan allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on 13 hits in seven frames. She struck out seven batters and walked two.
Sydney Lynch had two singles and Bella Nelson two RBIs for the hosts.
W-G is at Pleasantville tonight and will travel to Earlham Friday, with the varsity game on Friday starting first.
