Indees lose to Raiders, split against DC teams

After a lopsided nonconference loss, the Independence/Gilmanton softball team split two games against Dairyland Conference foes.

The Indees struggled in a 12-2 loss to Arcadia last Monday. The team rebounded with a 7-0 win over Cochrane-Fountain City on Tuesday, but lost to Augusta, 7-3, on Friday. 

I/G sat at 4-8 before playing at Whitehall on Monday and at home against Eleva-Strum on Tuesday. The team will head to Osseo-Fairchild on Thursday. I/G closes out the regular season with home games against Augusta and Westby next Monday and Tuesday. 

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament is scheduled to begin next Thursday. 

I/G 7 C-FC 0

The Indees exploded for five runs in the first inning and cruised to the shutout victory.

I/G got on the board when Hannah Ekern tripled to score two runs. She scored on a sacrifice fly before two runs came home on an error.

Harper Symicek doubled in a run in the third to put I/G ahead 6-0. The team’s final run scored when Hannah Ekern scored on a sacrifice fly by Danika Ekern. 

The Indees had nine hits in the game as Leah Steagerwald and Symicek both had two. Symicek, Hannah Ekern and Danika Ekern all drove in two runs. 

Nora Schank struck out 10 in the winning effort. She held the Pirates to just four hits and one walk as she tossed a complete game. 

Augusta 7 I/G 3

A five-run third inning was too much for the Indees to overcome.

The Indees got off to a strong start as Hannah Ekern tripled in a run and then scored on a single by Danika Ekern in the first inning. The game shifted in the third, however, when the Beavers took advantage of four walks and a three-run error to take the lead. A single put Augusta ahead, 5-2. 

The Beavers added another in the fourth, but I/G got that run back when Hadley Sylla hit a solo home run with two outs in the fifth. Augusta scored again in the sixth and I/G had no answer. 

The Indees had eight hits as Sylla, Danika Ekern and Celia Slaby all had two. 

Hannah Ekern got the start in the circle and threw the first four innings, striking out eight batters while allowing five hits and four walks. Hailey Gruber pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.