"These wins were really important for our confidence," coach Charlotte Waner said. "Our mental game was much better (today) and we did a great job with the bats. We also fielded well. We just did everything right."

In the opener, pitcher Leann Thomas (2-3) allowed seven hits and two earned runs while facing 36 batters.

The Warriors jumped on top 5-0 in the second inning on six hits. Megan Hudson and Kari Tajchman drove in two runs each while Amber Richmond drove in the fifth run.

Halstead broke the drought in the third inning with a run before the Warriors scored three more times in the fourth as Tajchman singled and scored on an Allie Maddox single.

Maddox and Richmond scored later in the inning to stake the Warriors to an 8-1 lead.

Halstead added a run in the fifth and four more in the sixth to cut the lead to 8-6, but the Warriors answered with four insurance runs in the seventh on a two-run double from Thomas, a Richmond single and a Hudson sacrifice to account for the final 12-6 score.

In the second game, Halstead jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning but the Warriors scored a single run in the second when Richmond tripled and scored on a double by Kara Holt.

After the Dragons added a run in the second, the Warriors tied the game at 3 by scoring two third inning runs as Hudson singled, Tajchman walked and both scored on a Thomas double.

But in the bottom of the inning, Halstead scored two runs on just one hit to lead 5-3.

The Warriors scored four runs in the fifth on two hits, the big blow being a two-run triple by Maddox to put the Warriors on top 7-5.

That's when Waner rolled the dice and brought Thomas into the game to pitch. The fire-balling senior shut down Halstead on no hits through three innings.

"I just wanted to mix things up and see if the change would make a difference-and it did," Waner said. "Kara did a good job, but sometimes you just have to gamble and it worked this time."

The Warrior offense, meanwhile, scored three more runs in the sixth on six hits, including a two-run double by Hudson, and four runs in the seventh to win going away.

Holt (3-2) picked up the win while Thomas was credited with a save.

The Warriors pounded out 14 hits in the win which improve their record to 5-5 for the season.

"It was exciting to win both games and hopefully things will start falling into place now," Waner said. "We needed a pair of wins because after losing to Hoisington and Hillsboro, it would have been easy to doubt ourselves but now we know we can do it and we're excited again."

Hillsboro-The Warriors dropped a pair of games to Hillsboro last Tuesday, 12-3 and 9-5.

Game 1 was close through the first four innings, but the Trojans generated nine runs over the last three innings to post the win.

Laura Lindsay (2-2) picked up the victory for HHS. The junior gave up 13 hits but only three runs. She struck out only one Warrior but did not walk any.

Leann Thomas (1-3) absorbed the loss, surrendering 11 hits and five walks. She registered four strikeouts.

In Game 2, the Trojans scored eight times in the first three innings, but the Warriors broke through for two runs in the bottom of the third inning and three in the fourth to close the gap to 8-5.

Hillsboro deflated the Warriors' momentum with a run in the sixth.

Marissa Diener (2-2) went the distance for Hillsboro, giving up eight hits and one walk. She finished with seven strikeouts.

Kara Holt (2-2) took the loss. The junior gave up seven hits and eight walks over six innings. Thomas, who pitched the seventh, gave up one hit against the four batters she faced.

The victories evened Hillsboro's season record at 4-4 while Marion dropped to 3-5.

A more complete report of these games appears in last week's Free Press Extra.

Coming--The Warriors were scheduled to host Hesston on Tuesday; they remain idle until April 29, when they travel to Wichita to play Collegiate beginning at 4 p.m.