MFL MarMac rides momentum into postseason
Hannah Jacobson smashes a hit in the first game of a doubleheader against the Warriors. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Emily Hendrickson-Troester picked up two wins in MFL MarMac's doubleheader sweep of Central on July 3.
Kaitlin Picha races for home in game one of the Bulldogs' doubleheader sweep of Central.
Shortstop Emme Wikner throws the ball to first base, securing an out against the Warriors.
By Zoey Hyde, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac softball team played four games this past week with two conference doubleheaders. The Bulldogs faced both North Fayette Valley and Central at home. The Bulldogs secured two wins out of the four and now have a record of 5-11 in the Upper Iowa Conference.
The Bulldogs stayed at home for their first doubleheader of the week against NFV on July 1. In the first game of this match up, the Bulldogs unfortunately fell 12-4 to the TigerHawks.
On the bats, Emme Wikner and Garnett Niedziejko both got off two hits. Wikner brought home one run in her three at bats. Niedziejko also drove in two RBIs in four at bats.
Katelyn Gerndt, Kaitlin Picha and Kytlee Warrington each secured one hit to get more players on base for MFL MarMac, but none of these attempts turned out how the Bulldogs hoped. Kaylee Baker stole two bases, followed by Wikner stealing one, to get players in scoring position for the Bulldogs.
Emily Hendrickson-Troester pitched all seven innings and allowed 15 hits while striking out one batter.
The second game of the night turned out similarly, with the Bulldogs falling 14-7. In this game, Lauryn Sandstrom was on the mound, and allowed the TigerHawks nine hits.
Picha put up impressive stats on the bases, stealing four bags, and the Bulldogs saw more come off the bats this game with a team total 12 hits. Ayla Gerndt and Picha each had three hits, with Gerndt bringing home two runs and one RBI and Picha securing two runs and three RBIs. Niedziejko made contact twice, driving in one RBI. Wikner had one hit, one run, and two RBIs after an impressive streak in past games. Grace Palas, Kensey Ball and Hannah Jacobson each secured one hit for the Bulldogs.
MFL MarMac faced Central for a home doubleheader on July 3, pulling through with two wins. In the first game, the Bulldogs won 4-2.
Wikner led the team with two hits and also brought home one RBI. Picha, Katelyn Gerndt, Hendrickson-Troester, Jacobson and Warrington secured one hit each. Picha and Hendrickson-Troester and Gerndt all brought one RBI across home plate.
Hendrickson-Troester appeared on the mound and had one strikeout while only allowing five hits.
In the Bulldogs’ second game of the night, they won 9-4. Hendrickson-Troester was on the mound again, allowing only nine hits and striking out four. The Bulldogs also made zero fielding errors against the Warriors.
Niedziejko led the team with two hits and Picha secured one. With patience, the Bulldogs drew 14 walks in the game, which allowed them to score multiple runs.
MFL MarMac started the postseason on July 8, facing Marquette Catholic in Bellevue.
