Marshalltown, IA—Taking on the No. 15 Des Moines Area Community College Bears, the Marshalltown Community College softball team stole a win in Wednesday's doubleheader, rallying late in the opener for a 5-4 victory as Mackenzie Gott (Oskaloosa, IA/Oskaloosa) delivered a sixth-inning game-winning RBI. The Tigers fell in game two 7-0.
Trailing 4-3 in Wednesday's home opener, the Tigers (18-14/6-8) scored a run in the fifth and sixth innings to come from behind and upset the visiting Bears. Gott's single scored leadoff hitter Brooke Dunkin (Bussey, IA/Twin Cedars) after the sophomore stole two bases to reach third base. Sophomore pitcher Sarah Wilson (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa) picked up the win after keeping the Bears off the scoreboard over the final three innings to give MCC just its second win over DMACC (22-8/12-4) in its last nine tries.
Game two saw the potent MCC offense cool off as the Tigers went hitless until a single from Wilson in the sixth inning. The Tigers stranded six runners in the nightcap.
After allowing an unearned run in the first inning, the Tigers responded with three runs in the second to take the early lead. Tacie Blunk (Boone, IA/Boone), McKenna Hotopp (State Center, IA/East Marshall), and Kyndal Milder (Columbus Junction, IA/Columbus) all came around to score.
The Bears tied the game at three with a pair of runs in the third and went back on top with a run in the top of the fourth. As the game headed into the bottom of fifth, the Tigers loaded the bases with an Emmeline Huffaker (Baxter, IA/Baxter) single. Whitney Baker (Nevada, IA/Nevada) drew a walk five-pitch walk to bring in Wilson and tie the game at four-all.
Dunkin led off the sixth inning with a walk and stole both second and third base to reach scoring position. Gott deliver a full-count single to bring in the winning run. Wilson left two DMACC runners on base in the seventh inning to secure the victory, her team-leading ninth of the year.
The Tigers will continue its home-stand with two games against Southeast Community College on Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
