By Quint Turner
In a close pitchers’ duel Wednesday, it took five innings for the Mavericks softball team to break through and get to Lynnwood Royals pitcher Jessica Gott. Starting Maverick pitcher Alyssa Reuble pitched five strong innings and ended up getting the win, while Kylee Studioso closed out the game, which was much closer than the 7-2 Maverick score would lead you to believe. Meadowdale’s Nicole Steg got the go-ahead RBI in the fifth to provide the offensive support, while Studioso provided 2 RBI and a hit.
The Royals didn’t do anything in the first. Kelsey Parker reached on an error with two outs but Reuble put them away. The Mavericks responded with back-to-back singles by Steg and Lily Paschal. A walk drawn by Reuble had the bases loaded with one out, and Studioso hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Tatum Hall grounded out to end the inning.
Nothing happened in the second, but Reuble notched two strikeouts and the Mavericks went down 1-2-3. The Royals would tie it in the third inning as Jasmin Edwards reached on an error, then a throwing error moved her to second. Lynnwood’s Jorclyn Beig would also reach on an error, and a single by Parker loaded the cases. A hit by Erica Gott over centerfielder Steg’s head led to a run, but Steg got the ball back in quickly and Studioso took the cutoff, throwing out Beig at home. Jessica Gott of the Royals then grounded out to end the inning, leaving the score at 1-1.
The Mavericks got a leadoff single from Haukap in the fourth, but she would be thrown out trying to steal second, followed by back-to-back K’s to end the inning. The Royals started with singles from Kelsie Mason and Jenah Barlow, but a line drive to first baseman Kaylee Hagen was caught, then a flyout and a popout got the Mavs out of the inning.
Reuble led off Meadowdale’s fifth with a single, and she got to second on an errant throw, but a line drive from Studioso went straight to second baseman Erica Gott and she threw Reuble out at second. A strikeout would end the inning. The Royals broke the tie in the fifth after Park doubled, then got to third on a sacrifice fly, and was brought home on Jessica Gott’s double. A groundout would end the inning.
The Mavs came back in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a walk followed by a wild pitch. With Ashley Brooke on second, Tiffany Dewayne doubled to left field to bring Brooke home, then a single from Haukap got Dewayne to third. Steg hit a ground ball in the hole, and while it was stopped before reaching the outfield, everyone was safe and the Mavs took a 3-2 lead. A single from Paschal brought Haukap home and Steg tried to get home as well, but she was out on a nice throw from Erica Gott. A triple from Reuble drove in Paschal, followed by a single from Studioso that brought Reuble home . When the inning finally ended on a groundout and a popout, the Mavs were up 6-2.
In the sixth, Studioso replaced Reuble, and her first batter, Barlow, would strike out. After Sara Sohnly was hit by a pitch and Sara Sohnly singled, Edwards walked to make the bases loaded. But Studioso got out of a jam when Beig hit a groundball directly to her and she threw it to Haukap, who doubled up Ero to end the inning.
In the seventh, the Mavs added another insurance run as Dewayne drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a fielders choice by Haukap. A wild pitch then led to an RBI single from Steg to make it 7-2. The Mavs were retired on back-to-back flyouts. In the bottom of the seventh, Studioso struck out Parker, then gave up back-to-back walks, but she came back to strikeout Mason and Barlow to end the game .
The Mavs play againThursday at Glacier Peak at 3:30 p.m. Their last home game, and the last game of the season, is Friday at Meadowdale at 3:30 p.m.
Sportswriter Quint Turner is a student at Meadowdale High School.
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