TAMA — The East Marshall softball team built up enough cushion to withstand South Tama’s big blast as the Mustangs doubled up the Trojans 6-3 on Friday night.

East Marshall (8-9) scored in four of its first five at-bats to achieve a 6-0 lead that was more than Ashylnn Ellenbecker’s seventh home run of the season could atone for. Ellenbecker hit a three-run blast with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to account for South Tama’s only salvo.

Mustang freshman Morgan Neuroth pitched a gem otherwise, allowing six total hits and no walks while striking out eight. Ellenbecker took the loss, allowing five earned runs on nine hits while striking out one.

Emma Pfantz went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and three runs scored to lead East Marshall at the plate. Callyn Curphy was 2-for-3 with an RBI double, and Camy Weeks was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Rayne McIlrath and Ellie Hull both hit run-scoring doubles as well.

Ellenbecker finished 2-for-3, while Ashleigh Finch, Laurel Upah, Millie Mathes-Henle and Alexis Meek each hit singles for the Trojans (3-21).

Trojans hit round-trippers to defeat Gladbrook-Reinbeck

REINBECK — The West Marshall baseball team hit a pair of home runs to back Peyton Hart’s complete-game pitching performance in a 16-1, five-inning triumph over Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Thursday night.

Hart allowed six hits and struck out four for the Trojans (14-5), who scored seven runs in the third inning, three in the fourth and six more in the fifth.

Kinnick Christensen and Dru Wilder both hit solo homers for West Marshall. Cody Braddy was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored, Parker Reese was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, and Kaden Davis finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Owen Siegert added a two-run double to the damage.

Keagan Giesking led the Rebels (6-9) with two hits. Isaac Clark singled and scored on a Nick Tscherter single in the third inning for G-R’s only run. Caleb Egesdal took the loss on the mound for the Rebels.

Mustangs overtake Hudson with big inning

GILMAN — The East Marshall baseball team used a seven-run eruption in the fifth inning to overtake Hudson (7-6) for a 10-7 victory in Thursday’s cross-NICL contest.

The Mustangs (8-7) piled up 13 hits in the win, rallying back from a 6-4 deficit thanks to a seven-run explosion. Dane Thompson was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs, and Jordan Swift was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI.

Wesley Hamor added a 2-for-3 day at the plate that included a double and two RBIs, and Colton Robinson was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Landon Elliott went 2-for-2 and scored a run.

East Marshall’s big inning made a winner out of freshman Alex Jacobson, who pitched three innings of one-run relief. Jacobson allowed two hits and five walks while striking out four.

East Marshall softball finishes sweep of BCLUW

LE GRAND — Emma Pfantz pitched a three-hitter and also drove in three runs as the East Marshall softball team completed its season sweep of BCLUW with an 11-1, five-inning win in Thursday’s NICL West Division clash.

Pfantz struck out four and didn’t walk a batter in the win, going all five innings in the circle for the Mustangs (7-9, 3-3). She also was 2-for-2 at the plate with a sacrifice fly, a two-run single, a walk and a double. Pfantz scored the game-ending run on a throwing error after Callyn Curphy had driven in Rayne McIlrath with a sacrifice fly.

Hailee Fredregill led East Marshall with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, scoring once, while Ellie Hull was 2-for-3 with an RBI double. McIlrath, Pfantz and Curphy had two hits apiece.

BCLUW (1-16, 0-4) got two of its three singles in the same inning to score its only run, as Callie Swanson hit a leadoff single and eventually scored on Eden Wilson’s hit.

Kaylee Grant had the Comets’ other hit. Katie Hill got the loss in the circle, allowing 13 hits and 10 earned runs with four walks and three strikeouts.

South Hardin slips past Mustangs in 12 innings

ELDORA — The South Hardin softball team broke a 2-all tie in the bottom of the 12th inning and secured a season sweep of East Marshall with a 3-2 victory in Wednesday’s NICL West Division showdown.

A mishandled ball off the bat of Samantha Preston plated courtesy runner Alyssa Stille as the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 12th, lifting the Tigers (11-3, 5-0) to victory. South Hardin hadn’t scored since the first inning, but came up big when it needed to.

East Marshall (6-9, 2-3) got its two runs in the third inning. Jayleigh Pansegrau led off with a hit but didn’t advance until Morgan Neuroth’s two-out single. Back-to-back hits by Rayne McIlrath and Emma Pfantz brought the Mustangs to the 2-all tie that lasted another nine innings.

Neuroth took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on 12 hits and five walks while striking out 13. South Hardin’s Hailey Rosonke scattered seven hits and walked none, striking out 14.

Neuroth led East Marshall with three hits, and McIlrath had two.