The Trojans have been a traveling team for the first 13 games of the 2022 season due to a fence renovation that has been delayed and is yet to be completed, yet to play in front of their home fans.

On Tuesday, the Trojans finally played the host — playing on the old North Diamond at West Marshall High School — and took home a 12-10 victory over Lynnville-Sully, improving to 7-7 on the season. Lynnville-Sully dropped to 6-13.

Head coach Jake Randall said it has been a difficult start to the season but emphasized how well the players have coped with always playing on the road.

“It was really important for our girls, they’ve put a ton of work in,” Randall said. “It’s difficult but the kids haven’t really missed a beat. It gave them a focus on just playing softball.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - West Marshall outfielder Lilly Buck (4) watches as Lilly Fischer, right, makes a leaping catch over her shoulder during Tuesday’s softball game against Lynnville-Sully in State Center.

“Our kids have stayed really consistent with the approach.”

West Marshall countered a two-run top of the first inning with four runs in the bottom of the first, grabbing an early lead and showing aggressiveness at the plate. Randall said the team has consistently spoken about approach at the plate and being aggressive when there’s an opportunity.

The Hawks fought back immediately, scoring four runs in the second inning and holding a 6-5 run after two innings. Errors didn’t help the Trojans, but the offense was strong enough to keep them in the game.

Two more runs for Lynnville-Sully in the third and one run for West Marshall put the score at 8-6 heading into the fourth inning, where the Hawks tacked on their final two runs of the contest. A 10-7 scoreline through four innings gave the Trojans a hill to climb, but three innings to do it.

In the fifth and sixth innings the defense tightened up, and chipping away with one run in the fifth, the offense was still keeping the game tight.

West Marshall’s start to the bottom of the sixth inning was an avalanche — beginning with Lilly Buck’s walk, the Trojans had six straight batters reach base and four runs cross home plate. Ciera Randall, Kalyn Polley and Josi Zahnd all played key roles in the inning. Jake made sure to praise the senior core of his lineup for their contributions to the comeback.

“We were at a great spot in our order, we’ve got some senior leaders there,” Jake said. “Lilly starts things off by getting a nice walk, Kalyn with a wonderful bunt there putting pressure on the defense.

“We really challenged Josi Zahnd, she’s really got some thunder in her bat. She came up in a huge situation there and did a really nice job.”

Taking a 12-10 advantage into the top of the seventh inning, the Trojans needed to hold firm on defense and on the mound. Starting pitcher Madeline Karsjen and the outfield held up, catching fly balls for all three outs to seal the win. Karsjen gave up 10 runs (only five of them earned) and struck out one batter while allowing 10 hits and walking one batter.

At the plate, the Trojans collected 12 hits — with Ciera Randall leading the way with three hits and Buck and Polley adding two each. Polley led the team (along with Karsjen) with two RBIs each. Keaton Pfantz, Zahnd, Emma Stanley, Karsjen and Lily Fischer collected one hit apiece.

Up next for the Trojans is another home matchup with Perry on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m.