IMS 7  W-M-U 6

Gretchen Geyer

Megan Haifley

Meredith Schrock

After falling to Mediapolis earlier in the week the IMS softball team came out ready to play.  The IMS defense set the tone early retiring 12 of the first 13 batters with Laura Hochstetler leading the way striking out five.  IMS was able to feed off their defense scoring two runs in the bottom of the first and adding another run in the third inning to make it a 3-0 lead.  IMS continued to put pressure on W-M-U by putting a runner in scoring position every inning but one. W-M-U did not give up and eventually took the lead scoring five runs in the top of the fifth inning by putting the ball exactly where the IMS defenders were not.  They added another run in the top of sixth inning to make it a 6-3 game.  With only two at bats left IMS decided to put together a decisive bottom of the sixth inning.  Naomi Miller started the inning off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mo Brenneman.  Three of the next four batters came through with singles to score three runs to tie the game at 6-6.  With two outs and runners on second and third Keilah Brokaw stepped up to plate and hit a fly ball in the gap to score the winning run.  In the top of the seventh W-M-U was able to get their lead off runner on but a ground ball to short was able to get the out at second. The next batter went down swinging on three pitches for the second out.  With the outfield in, the next batter hit a fly ball over the head of Mo Brenneman who was able to sprint back and make a shoe string catch to end the game and give IMS their third win of the year.  

“I thought we fought hard tonight.  Our focus this week has been playing better defensively and we made some strides in that department tonight.  W-M-U has been playing well as of late taking down a good Columbus team so this is a good win for us,”  said Head Coach Chris Nachtigall.  IMS was led by Gretchen Geyer 3-4 with 2 SB and 2 runs scored; Mo Brenneman 2-3 with 1 SB and 1 run scored; Meredith Schrock 2-4 with 3 RBI’s; Laura Hochstetler 7 innings pitched 8K’s 4 BB 3 earned runs 8 hits.
IMS is 3-3 and will play next on Friday night at Danville in a varsity doubleheader.