Non-conference games unkind to Bulldogs
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac softball team dropped a trio of tough non-conference games to open the season last week.
The Bulldogs fell prey to consecutive six- and five-run innings late in a 14-2 loss to New Hampton on May 23. The Chickasaws racked up 13 hits—including four doubles—along with five walks. They also reached six times on errors and swiped four bases. MFL MarMac’s Emily Troester took the loss.
Kaitlin Picha tallied the lone hit—a double—for the Bulldogs and drove in both runs. Garnett Niedziejko and Ayla Gerndt both walked and scored. Kaylee Walch was hit by a pitch and stole a base.
MFL MarMac was tied with Midland 5-5 through the first two innings of a May 24 match-up, but the Eagles pushed a run across in the bottom of the third for a 6-5 advantage. They tacked on four more in the fifth to win 10-5.
The Eagles did their damage on 10 hits and four walks. They also wreaked havoc on the bases, with 12 steals.
The Bulldogs earned just two hits off Midland pitcher Anna Bartels, but drew a whopping 13 walks to help bring home some runs. No individual statistics were listed.
MFL MarMac wrapped up the week May 26, in a narrow 6-5 loss at Decorah. Statistics were available for neither team at press time.
The Bulldogs will start this week with a pair of Upper Iowa Conference home games against Postville on May 31. They will host Hudson June 1, then head to Oelwein June 2.