MHS makes up for near-miss
Dawson leads Bobcat softball team to CIML Iowa Conference sweep of Mohawks
The first win of the season escaped the Bobcats when Mason City rallied for three runs in its last at-bat in a CIML Iowa Conference sweep of the Marshalltown softball team back on June 5.
On Wednesday night, MHS took the lead in both games and McKaylee Dawson made them stick.
The junior left-hander went the distance in the circle as Marshalltown topped the Mohawks 3-2 in the first game, and her two-run home run and first-career save sealed the Bobcats’ 3-1 triumph in the nightcap.
It marked the first doubleheader sweep for the Marshalltown softball team since the Bobcats took two from Mason City on the MHS diamond on June 23, 2016. It was also the Bobcats’ first conference win of any kind since that date.
Dawson (3-11) allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks while pitching all seven innings of the opener, striking out five. She also went 1-for-1 at the plate and scored a run after getting hit by a pitch one out into the bottom of the fourth inning. Trailing 2-1 at the time, Dawson advanced to second base when Bridget Carroll walked, and she stole third before scoring on a groundout by Emily Hass. Carroll came across as the eventual game-winning run when Aspen Chadderdon belted a double into the gap in left-center field.
Marshalltown (4-19, 2-10) managed just four hits in the opening win to Mason City’s seven, but the Bobcats made the most of their limited opportunities. Regan Mazour, Erica Johnson and Dawson had singles, and the Bobcats held off a late Mohawk rally in the seventh.
Mason City (9-21, 2-10) again outhit Marshalltown 8-6 in the second game, but Bobcat sophomore hurler Abby Brennecke limited the damage over her five innings and Dawson did the rest.
The Mohawks scored a single run in the top of the fourth before Dawson followed a walk to Ciara Feldman with her first-career home run to right field, making it a 2-1 Bobcat advantage.
MHS manufactured an insurance run in the fifth when McKenna Major led off with a single to center. She took second on a passed ball, advanced to third on Mazour’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Madi Finch’s flyout to center field.
Dawson came on to pitch with a 3-1 lead and locked it down, allowing just one hit while striking out one for the save.
Carroll went 2-for-3 with a double and Dawson was 2-for-3 with a home run to lead Marshalltown’s offense, while Mazour and Major added singles.
The Bobcats go in search of more wins when they travel tonight to face Des Moines North in a doubleheader. Marshalltown’s annual Bobcat Classic starts at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Marshalltown Community College and resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday.