LE GRAND — Reagan McIlrath threw a three-inning perfect game and also homered as the Class 2A No. 15 East Marshall softball team bounced back from Wednesday’s loss to rival BCLUW by slamming Iowa Valley in a non-conference tilt, 12-0 in three innings, on Thursday night.

McIlrath struck out five and walked none in three perfect frames in the circle. He also hit a two-run homer in the third inning that was followed by Madison Farrington’s solo shot and a two-run blast by Hannah Birks that ended the game by the mercy rule.

Juliana Arifi finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI single and a two-run triple.

Newly ranked Comets shut out Tigers

CONRAD — Bailey Ashton and Kiersten Kruse combined on a four-hit shutout and the Class 1A No. 13 BCLUW softball team stifled South Hardin, 12-0 in four innings, in Thursday’s NICL West Division game.

Ashton struck out five and allowed three hits in three innings, and Kruse allowed one hit while striking out two in the top of the fourth for the Comets (4-2, 2-0).

BCLUW’s bats racked up 13 hits, led by Kennedy Williams going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Kruse, Easton Swanson, Cate Nason and Olivia Hughes each went 2-for-3 at the plate, highlighted by a triple for Swanson and two RBIs for the other three.

Trojans team up to one-hit Spartans

GRUNDY CENTER — Three West Marshall pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout as the Trojans toppled Grundy Center 7-0 in Thursday’s NICL West Division contest.

Nat Markle allowed one single in four innings, striking out four in the win, while Cameron Bannister pitched two frames and Gabe Jones the last, both relievers striking out three, to team up for the shutout.

West Marshall (3-1, 1-0) got just two hits — both doubles by Banninster — but benefitted from 13 walks and three hit batsman by Grundy Center pitching.

East Marshall succumbs to Grinnell

LE GRAND — The East Marshall baseball team fell behind by nine before getting on the board in a 9-5 loss to Grinnell here Thursday night.

The Mustangs (2-4) trailed 9-0 before scoring twice in the sixth and three times in the bottom of the seventh.

Starting pitcher Logan Bowie took the loss, allowing four runs — two earned — on two hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out three.

Austin Elliott, Dane Thompson and Hunter Vilez had two hits apiece to lead East Marshall, including a double for Vilez. Elliott drove in two, while Wesley Hamor had a two-run double in a losing cause.