The Bobcats (1-17) made a brief pitching change before the first out of the night was recorded in game 1, with starting pitcher Avery Mull taken out for freshman Ava Augustine two batters in. Augustine gave up two runs (two earned), and Mull came in at the start of the second inning to finish the game. Mull gave up 12 total runs (nine earned) on 11 hits, three walks and six strikeouts.

Coach Jim Palmer said Marshalltown didn’t come into the doubleheader ready to play.

“We just didn’t play as well as we could’ve,” Palmer said. “After we finished strong [Wednesday] in a contest with East, we didn’t come out today, I felt, with that desire.”

The Roughriders hit three home runs over the course of the evening and constantly tested the Bobcats’ outfield. Six runs in the first two innings gave Roosevelt a big cushion despite a run scored by senior Madison Finch in the bottom of the first. From there, the Roughriders were in control and stretched the lead to 14-3.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

The Bobcats had six hits in game one: two from Emma McWherter and one each by Finch, Paige Wertzberger, Gabby Himes and Kyra Feldman.

In the nightcap, A two-run homer for Roosevelt set the tone and the Bobcats couldn’t get on the board. A five-run fourth inning put the Roughriders over the 12-run threshold. Kailee Pollard pitched in three innings and gave up seven runs (four earned) on six hits. Augustine threw in the fourth inning and gave up five earned runs on five hits.

It was a difficult Senior Night for Gabby Himes, Erica Johnson, Madi Finch and Sophie Blubaugh. After the games, Palmer praised the quartet for their influence on the younger members of the team.

“They’ve been very good leaders for our program,” Palmer said. “They’ve been especially vocal in leading this year and really have a lot of input in some of the meetings that we do. They do help some of the underclassmen, they give them suggestions and help them through it. As long as they keep working hard, so does everybody else.”

The Bobcats’ season continues Wednesday against Des Moines North at home, with first pitch set for 5 p.m.