IMS 10  Keota 0 (5 innings) Friday
IMS 5  Pekin 6  Monday
IMS 0  WACO 2  Monday

The IMS softball team started out the weekend on a good note capping off a  3-1 week with a win against Keota in five innings on Friday.  IMS got things going early with a five run first inning on five hits and two Keota errors.  Keota buckled down on defense the next two innings but IMS came out in the bottom of the fourth to score another three and then finished off the short night with three more in the bottom of the fifth inning.  The IMS defense again played well with Laura Hochstetler allowing just two hits on the night and only one runner in scoring position. 

Mo Brenneman was 3-4 with two runs scored, Gretchen Geyer was 1-3 with 2 runs scored, Meredith Schrock was 2-3 with 2 runs scored, Megan Haifley was 2-3, Jacayla Litwiler was 1-3 with 2 runs scored, Laura Hochstetler was 2-3. 

 
IMS came back on Monday to play Pekin in the afternoon making up an earlier game and then played WACO in the night cap.  In a back and fourth game with Pekin it seemed as though the team that would start to make the most plays consistently would get the win.  In the fifth inning it looked like IMS was going to take control. With the game tied IMS had the bases loaded with one out.  After the next two batters walked to make the score 4-3 Emma Yoder came through with a base hit with two outs to score another run and make it 5-3 going into the bottom of the fifth.  The Pekin bats came through in the bottom half of the inning scoring three runs on two hits to take the lead 6-5 and that is where the scoring ended. 

After a tough loss in the afternoon IMS came back to play WACO.  Early on it was obvious that it would be a pitchers dual as both pitchers were on their game.  Both defenses were playing well also as numerous plays were made to hold the other team scoreless.  IMS had baserunners in scoring position numerous times but WACO seemed to come up with the plays they needed to hold them scoreless.  WACO came through in the bottom of the fifth inning to plate two runs on a couple IMS errors.  Their first run was scored on a great diving attempt by Megan Haifley at third only to see the ball tip off her glove and roll into foul territory.  The WACO runner saw an opportunity and seized it taking off toward home. The great hustle by the IMS defense made the play extremely close but the umpire called her safe.  WACO would score one more run to make it a 0-2 game which would be enough for the win. 

Laura Hochstetler pitched well in both games only giving up two earned runs for both games while striking out ten (four against Pekin and six against WACO).  “I thought we have been playing really well for the last week.  Sometimes your offense doesn’t come through.  Against Keota we got it going but against Pekin and WACO we struggled to make good contact with the ball and come up with key hits.  We were really close in both of these games to breaking it open.  I think these were good tests for us. Our defense played well enough to win in both cases but we needed to come through on the offensive end.  Next time we are in that situation we will be ready for it,”  commented Head Coach Chris Nachtigall. 

IMS is 7-10 and will play next tonight at home against Mediapolis.