By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
A wild ending to the second game of a doubleheader between the Silver Lake and Rossville softball teams produced a split at Rossville Monday night between the two rivals.
After Silver Lake won the opening contest 8-3, Rossville appeared to be in control throughout the second game but struggled to put the feisty Eagles away in the final inning.
Rossville scored six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to build what appeared to be an insurmountable 12-3 lead. But the Eagles refused to go quietly, scoring seven runs before the Bulldawgs were able to close out the 12-10 victory.
Rossville softball, celebrating a run during Monday's home doubleheader with Silver Lake, earned a split with a 12-10 second-game win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Silver Lake rapped out eight hits in the top of the seventh and cut the deficit to just two runs. With runners on first and third, they appeared poised to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But a smash deep into the outfield was snared by the Rossville fielder for the second out of the inning. Once the ball was in the infield, a throw to third base produced the final out on the Eagle runner who left the base on contact.
“I’m just glad we were able to hang on to get the win,” said Rossville coach John Nitsch following the nightcap. “The main thing is just to keep on fighting. I’m glad we scored enough the inning before to give us that cushion.
“The difference between this year and last year was we’d let games like that get away from us. But this year we’re able to fight back and get it.”
Rossville withstood four Silver Lake home runs and a triple in the second game by stringing together long rallies in the second and sixth innings. The Bulldawgs compiled 17 hits in the late game, all but one of which were singles.
The opening game loss to Silver Lake was Rossville’s first defeat of the season. The nightcap made the Bulldawgs 7-1 on the season.
“My biggest thing was I didn’t like how we competed in the first game,” said Nitsch, who recorded his 100th career victory earlier in the season. “We’ve got to show up to compete every pitch, every play, not extend innings by not making plays.”
Senior pitcher Riley Mohler picked up an 8-3 complete game first-game victory as Silver Lake and Rossville split Monday's doubleheader. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Silver Lake got a complete-game victory in the opener from pitcher Riley Mohler. The senior helped herself out with two big plays in the sixth inning, neither coming from her pitching arm.
Knotted at 3-3 in the top of the sixth, the pitcher stepped to the plate with runners on second and third. She cracked a drive to the opposite field that banged against the right field fence, plating both runners to take the lead.
“I personally love hitting. I know pitching is a big thing for me. I’ve been pitching for as long as I can remember,” Mohler said. “But once I sit in that box and I can hit, it really changes the game because I can affect the score and who wins.”
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, with a runner on first, she stabbed a line drive back through the box and doubled up the Rossville runner who strayed from the bag.
“Sometimes I hate being called ‘just a pitcher.’ I like being able to be seen as able to do other things, too,” Mohler said. “When I’m able to make a double play or a throw to first, or a big hit, that’s a big opportunity for me.”
The Eagles, Class 3A state runners-up the past two seasons, took their second loss of the year against eight victories.
“I think we’re working really well together, especially after losing a few seniors,” said Mohler. “We’ve been doing great and I’m really proud of everybody.”
GAME ONE
SILVER LAKE 8, ROSSVILLE 3
Silver Lake 012 002 3 -- 8 9 2
Rossville 010 020 0 -- 3 6 0
Mohler and Swygert. Clurman and Mitchell. W -- Mohler. L -- Clurman. 2B -- Silver Lake: Wende. Rossville: Whitmore. HR -- Silver Lake: Swygert. Rossville: Springer.
GAME TWO
ROSSVILLE 12, SILVER LAKE 10
Silver Lake (8-2) 010 101 7 -- 10 15 1
Rossville (7-1) 240 006 x -- 12 17 1
Heiman, Mal. Kortan (6) and Swygert. Henry, Hubbell (7) and Mitchell. W -- Henry. L -- Mal. Kortan. 3B -- Silver Lake: Hanni. HR -- Silver Lake: Wende 2, Heiman, Swygert. Rossville: Sanders.
