Marshalltown, IA—An all-around team effort gave the Marshalltown Community College softball team their first two victories of the year on Monday as the Tigers dropped Ellsworth Community College 8-0 in the opener and 16-6 in game two at home. Lauren Wolfe (Miles City, MT/Custer County) and Cass Vasquez (Los Angeles, CA/Oscar De La Hoya) both earned their first collegiate victories.
After scoring just nine runs over the team's last seven games, the Tigers erupted for 24 on Monday. While the MCC offense scored eight times in the opener, it was Wolfe who led the way for the Tigers, shutting out Ellsworth in five innings, allowing just three hits.
Kortlan Ollinger (Robins, IA/Linn Mar) and Amanda Staudt (Charles City, IA/Charles City) paced the offensive attack in game two, combining for six hits, 11 RBI, and four runs scored as MCC scored a season-high 16 runs.
Ollinger upped her season batting average to a team-best .321 after going 5-7 on the day, including 3-4 in game two. In the nightcap, Ollinger drove in six runs, capped by a two-run home run in the fourth.
Garcia added three more hits in game two with a triple and two runs scored. Ghee added two hits and two runs scored. All nine batters recorded at least one hit in the win.
"I'm happy for the girls," said head coach Dan Huntley. "Their hard work paid off today and we were able to get two wins. I'm glad to see both pitchers pick up their first collegiate victory."
"It was fun to run the offense and get things to finally come together," Huntley added. "Everything we've been working on in practice came in to play today and we were able to string some things together that led to our success."
Wolfe opened the day sitting the Panthers down in order in game one with a strikeout and two comebackers to the circle. After a scoreless first from the Tigers, Wolfe allowed just one base hit in the second before the MCC offense opened its scoring. The Tigers scored five runs in the inning as Kaycee Ray (Clinton, UT/Clearfield) and Ollinger recorded RBI-singles and both scored on wild pitches.
Wolfe continued to find her groove, facing the minimum nine batters over the final three innings to complete the shutout.
Staudt doubled in the fourth to score Wolfe and later crossed the plate on an error. Chezarae Garcia (Ogden, UT/Ogden) scored the final run on a throwing error in the fifth. Garcia finished the game 2-3 at the plate with a double.
Both sides traded a run in the first inning of game two as Sarah Ghee (Carlisle, IA/Carlisle) tripled to center field with two outs and scored on a single from Staudt to tie the game. Vasquez retired the Panthers in order in the second and the Tiger offense followed up with five runs in the bottom half. Ollinger and Staudt both recorded two-run singles in the inning.
Ellsworth pulled back within one after a four-run third inning, but the Tigers opened the floodgates with eight runs in their half. Nine straight batters reached base as the Tigers collected eight hits in the frame. Staudt replicated Ollinger once again with a two-run double. Eight Tigers scored while six had at least one RBI in the inning.
Ollinger's fourth-inning home run put the game out of reach as Vasquez sat the final four Panthers down in order to earn the win.
"Cass did a great job to battle back after they made a rally," Huntley exclaimed. "Our hitters did an excellent job today and this should give them the confidence they need heading forward."
The Tigers return to action with a home doubleheader against Southwestern Community College at home tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 3:00 PM.
