Hull Iowa — A seven run top of the fifth inning propelled Western Christian to the 2A quarterfinals in Region 1 softball. The Wolfpack moved past Sibley Ocheyedan 16-6 on Monday night in a first round play in game. Now it’s on to Larchwood Wednesday to go against the West Lyon Wild Cat who received a first round bye into the quarterfinals.
The Generals took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Charlie Palsrock hit a two run homer to right field with Makenzie Wolter aboard.
Western tied it at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Brittany Buren and Alyssa Buren both reached base. Courtsey runner Josie Stiemsma and Alyssa Buren both scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Corrie Jansen.
The Wolfpack took a 3-2 lead with a run in the top of the third as Kenzie Bousema singled and scored on an rbi single from Erika Bousema.
Sibley Ocheyedan answered with a par of runs in the bottom of the third to go up 4-3 as the Generals used a pair of walks and a hit batsman to load the bases. Jill Berkland singled up the middle to score Palsrock and Erin Swensen.
The Wolfpack answered with a run in the top of the fourth as Jamie Gesink was hit by a pitch and later scored on an rbi single to left by Kylie Van’t Hul. That tied the score at 4-4.
Western broke it open with a seven run fifth inning. The inning was keyed by a 2-run double from Gesink, rbi singles from Kenzie Bousema, Kelsie Van’t Hul and Janae Wynia. Corrie Jansen contributed a sac fly as well. When the half inning ended Western had taken control 11-6.
The Wolfpack pushed four more runs across in the top of the sixth inning sparked by rbi singles from Kylie Van’t Hul, Kenzie Bousema and Wynia to run the lead to 15-4.
Sibley Ocheyedan battled back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth as Palsrock and Britta Harberts reached and scored. Megan Block singled in a run with the other coming on an error as the Generals kept the game going cutting the lead to 15-6.
Western closed out the scoring with a run in the top of the seventh as Erika Bousema singled and later scored on a fielders choice by Alyssa Buren to make the final 16-6 as the Wolfpack held Sibley Ocheyedan off the board in the bottom of the seventh.
Alyssa Buren got the win in relief of Brittany Buren. She went the final four and a third innings giving up 6 hits and 4 earned runs. She struck out 2 and walked 3. Payton Crichton took the loss going the first four and a third innings giving up 6 hits and 8 earned runs. She struck out 2 and walked 8.
With the win Western improves to 14-12 on the year while the Generals see their season come to a close at 4-19.
