Marion softball starts HOA play with 4-0 record

Emily Hague fires a pitch during Game 2 against Bennington. In her first varsity appearance, Hague pitched her first full game to earn the win, scattering six hits and six runs over five innings of work. She struck out three batters. Marion swept Bennington, 18-3 and 16-6. Janae Rempel / Free Press

The Marion softball team improved to 4-0 in Heart of America play by sweeping two teams last week.

Bennington?Despite winning two games Friday, coach Jennifer Felvus saw room for improvement.

?We had moments of brilliance, but to be honest, we didn?t play our best softball,? she said. ?They?re wins that we didn?t get with our best ball, and I want to get them with our best ball.

?I sensed complacency in the players. Our goal in bettering ourselves is to play our best ball regardless of our opponent.?

The Warriors won Game 1 in three innings, 18-3. Marion scored seven runs off of five hits and an error in the first inning and added a pair of runs in the second inning, which was highlighted by Reann Hamm?s RBI double.

Bennington scored three runs on two hits in the third inning, but Marion sealed the run-rule win with nine runs off of five hits in the bottom half of the inning. The Bulldogs walked eight Warriors in the inning. These Warriors hit an RBI single: Hamm, Kourtney Hansen, Shelby Felvus, Kayla Kroupa and Paige May.

Felvus went the distance on the mound to earn the win. She scattered two hits and three runs (all earned) over three innings of work. She walked four batters and struck out five.

Marion completed the sweep with a 16-6 victory in five innings in the nightcap.

In her first varsity appearance, pitcher Emily Hague held Bennington scoreless through four innings. Offensively, Marion plated two runs in the first inning, thanks to a single by Davies and an error. The Warriors added a run in the second and another in the third to stake a 4-0 lead.

Marion took control in the fourth inning, using four hits in succession and a pair of errors to score nine runs. After a lead-off hit by pitch followed by a walk, Felvus hit a two-RBI single. Davies drove in a run with a single, Kline hit an RBI double and Kroupa hit a single.

Bennington scored six runs in the fifth inning, but Marion added three runs off three hits and an error to secure the run-rule victory.

Coach Felvus said offensively, her team still has room for improvement, but she was impressed with the Warriors? base-running.

?The girls are taking bases when they?re available,??she said. ?They?re making the most of situations. They?re not watching the other plays happen, they?re working.

?Offensively, really, we struggled. We?re stronger than what we put out there.?

Hague earned the pitching win in her first full game. She scattered six hits and six runs (all earned) over five innings of work. She walked six batters and struck out three.

?I think Emily did fantastic,? Coach Felvus said. ?I think she stepped up and she did really well.?

Sedgwick?Marion came from behind twice to sweep a doubleheader Tuesday.

?The ability these girls have to stay in the fight always impresses me,? coach Jennifer Felvus said. ?It ain’t over til it’s over, and these girls fight to the end.?

The Warriors won Game 1 in walk-off fashion, 6-5.

The game was tied, 1-1, after the first inning. Shelby Felvus reached base on a walk to lead off the inning and scored on a wild pitch.

Sedgwick plated two runs in the top of the second.

Both teams scored one run in the fourth?Marion scored thanks to a triple by Sheridyn Arterburn followed by a sacrifice fly by Elizabeth Meyer?to make it 4-2 in favor of the Cardinals.

Sedgwick extended its lead with a run in the top of the sixth, but Marion tied the game at 5 with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Sam Davies led off with a single, and Kayla Kroupa brought her home with an RBI single. Those were the only two hits in the inning, but Marion benefited from two Cardinal errors.

After two quick outs to start the seventh inning, two Cardinals reached base by walk, but pitcher Shelby Felvus escaped the damage by throwing a strikeout.

In the bottom half of the inning, Taylor May led off with a single. Following a strikeout, Felvus hit a single, and Sam Davies followed with a walk-off RBI single to end the game.

Felvus went the distance to earn the pitching win. She gave up six hits and five runs (all earned). She walked eight batters and struck out 11.

Marion won Game 2 in six innings, 20-10.

The Warriors trailed at the start, as Sedgwick scored eight runs on three hits and an error in the top of the first inning. Marion used singles by Davies and Arterburn and scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Each team added a run in the second. Kourtney Hansen hit a leadoff single and Shayla Kline hit a two-out single to bring her home. Marion trailed 9-5 through two innings.

Felvus gave up a leadoff walk in the third inning, but retired the next three Cardinals, and Marion took the lead with five runs off of three hits in the bottom of the third. Hansen, Felvus and Kline hit singles, and Marion also benefitted from three walks.

From there, Marion used a pair of hits and three errors to add five runs in the fourth to stake a 15-9 lead.

Sedgwick plated a run in the fifth, but Marion responded with four more. Robson led off with a single, and Hansen and Felvus each drove in a run with a single. By the end of the inning, Marion?s lead was 19-10.

The Warriors held Sedgwick scoreless in the sixth, then added one final run to seal the run-rule win.

Felvus went the distance to earn the pitching win. In six innings, she gave up six hits and 10 runs (nine earned). She walked 11 batters and struck out eight.

Coming?Marion (4-0, 4-2) was scheduled to travel to Council Grove Tuesday and will play a doubleheader at Ell-Saline Friday at 3 p.m.

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