TIMES-REPUBLICAN

AMES — The Marshalltown softball team held shortlived leads in both games of an Iowa Alliance Conference doubleheader eventually swept by Ames on Monday night.

The host Little Cyclones had to come from behind in both games, winning 9-3 and 9-1, to claim their 26th straight in the series.

Marshalltown (10-12, 4-6) scored twice in the first half inning, getting a one-out walk from Abby Janssen and an RBI double for Briley Danielson. Ames intentionally walked Emma Stupp to load the bases with two outs, and Faith Sommerlot delivered with a two-run single.

The Little Cyclones (14-12, 8-2) countered with three runs in the home half, fueled by three Marshalltown errors, and never trailed again.

An RBI single for Stupp scored Janssen to tie the score at 3-all in the third, but Ames got back-to-back two-out doubles in the bottom half to regain a 4-3 lead.

Kate Nigh hit a three-run home run as a part of a five-run sixth inning for Ames, boosting the home team’s final advantage to 9-3.

Marshalltown got two hits apiece from Danielson and Sommerlot, and Kendall Brummel added a single in the loss. Stupp allowed eight runs — only two earned — on eight hits and one walk over 5 2/3 innings, striking out four. Hanna Osgood allowed a run before getting the final out, but the Bobcats couldn’t overcome seven errors.

Kiley Sodahl struck out eight and walked three over seven innings for the win for Ames.

In the nightcap, MHS mustered just four hits against Brooklyn Benz and fell 9-1. Benz struck out three and walked none, going the distance for the win.

Bristol Ealy’s two-out double in the top of the third was followed by an RBI single for Janssen, giving Marshalltown a brief 1-0 lead, but the Little Cyclones scored seven times with two outs in the fourth to take command. Ames had four of its six hits in the outburst.

Danielson allowed just five earned runs in the loss, giving up six hits and five walks while striking out three. Ealy, Janssen, Stupp and Olivia Wise (double) had the Bobcats’ four hits.