MHS softball: Close calls don't go Warriors' way
Sports reporter
Whether it's by 10 runs or one, a loss is a loss.
Try telling that to the Marion High School softball team.
The Warriors lost four games this past week, three of them by one run.
In a doubleheader at Wichita Collegiate, the Warriors lost 7-6 and 6-5, as the Spartans scored the winning runs each game in the bottom of the seventh.
MHS had a 5-3 lead in game one, but WC scored three in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead.
The Warriors tied it up in the sixth, but the Spartans pushed across one more run for the victory.
MHS compiled 12 hits, two each from Lauren Helmer, Alex Cain, Shelby Percell, Kristin Waner, and Tacy Taylor.
Waner had a double, and Cain hit a triple in the loss.
Cain also threw a complete game, while walking four and striking out three.
MHS did all its scoring in the sixth inning of the second game, recording five runs to take a 5-3 lead.
But WC got one back in the bottom half of the inning, and scratched two across in the seventh against Waner.
The senior went the distance on the mound, walking four and striking out four.
She also was 4-4 at the plate, stole three bases, and leads the team with a .474 batting average.
Lanna Carroll had two hits, and the Warriors recorded 11 as a team.
Game one Friday against Hoisington was the one that really got away, as the Cardinals took it 10-3.
Hoisington led 5-0 in the fifth before MHS scored a run.
Cain, Jordan Harper, and Anna Laurin had all three hits for the Warriors.
Waner threw another complete game, striking out four.
The bats came alive in game two for Marion, as all nine players recorded at least one hit.
Cain was 4-5 and Carroll went 4-4 with her team-high fourth and fifth doubles.
Helmer had three hits, and Brooke Johnson two.
It looked like a blowout from the start as the Cardinals scored three in the first, but MHS bounced back with one in the first and four in the second.
It was tied at seven heading into the seventh, but the Cardinals pushed three across and seemed to have the game won.
MHS did not give up, scoring two runs, but still fell 10-9.
Cain was on the mound for all seven innings, walking just one and striking out six.
The losses dropped the Warriors to 2-10 on the season with eight games left to play.
They were in action Tuesday at home against Lyons, and travel to Haven Friday for a makeup doubleheader.
