BROOKINGS The Brookings Bobcats were at their best as they picked up a 15-9 win over the Yankton Gazelles at the Southbrook Softball Complex on Friday night.
The win helped Brookings improve to 7-5 and built some momentum as they prepare for four games in the days ahead to close the regular season.
It was good to get another win. We needed it, Brookings softball coach Emma Hardin said. We needed another win to build that confidence a little bit.
The highlight of the Bobcats win came at the plate. The Gazelles scored a run on a groundout in the top of the first inning but responded with a run of their own created by Kyle Moes walk and stolen base which helped her score on Kymber Buyss single in the bottom of the first inning.
The Bobcats added on with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second inning scoring runs on bases-loaded walks by Sydney Bebensee and Buys before Tess Burns drove in two runs with a single to make it a 5-1 game.
The Gazelles scored a pair of three runs on errors to make it a 5-4 game before Madison Musfelt tied it at 5-5 with an RBI double in the top of the third inning but Brookingss lineup responded again in the bottom half, loading the bases with a walk by Tessa Twedt and singles by Layla Jacobsma and Megan Wadsworth before Morgan Norgaards single gave the Bobcats a 6-5 lead.
I think we battled at the plate today, Hardin said of the offense. We put up some runs, which is always fun to do.
Brookings remained hot at the plate later in the third inning, getting RBI singles by Bebensee and Buys and a bases-loaded walk by Burns to make it a 9-5 game. Kinsey Grendler drove in a pair of runs to make it an 11-5 game and Burns scored on defensive indifference to give the Bobcats a 12-5 lead after three innings.
While Brookingss lineup was rolling, their defense kept Yankton in the game. Payton Moser drove in a run and Madison Girard each drove in runs with singles to make it a 12-7 game in the top of the fourth inning and Kyra Tjeersma drove in two more runs with a single in the top of the fifth inning to help the Gazelles climb within a 12-9 deficit.
I think that we need to clean some things up defensively, Hardin said. We cant make as many errors and we just talked about if we make an error, we cant let it snowball. Weve got to make one error and play some clean defense after that.
The Bobcats defense made the game interesting but that would be the final runs that Yankton would score. While Burns allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks with a pair of strikeouts over the first three innings, Moe came in and neutralized Yanktons bats allowing four unearned runs on six hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts over the final four innings to earn the win.
I thought that Kylie did a great job of coming into the game and throwing strikes, Hardin said. She really got the job done for us today.
With Moe pitching in the circle, the Bobcats bats were strong enough to bring the win home. Burns led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run before Jacobsma drove in Grendler to make it a 14-9 lead. The Bobcats added one more run on Bebensees groundout in the bottom of the sixth and Moe tossed a perfect inning highlighted by a diving catch by Twedts at first base to finish the game.
Buys went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI, a walk and a run scored while Burns went 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two runs scored and four RBI. Morgan Norgaard went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk, an RBI and two stolen bases. Grendler went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI. Jacobsma went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI and Wadsworth went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Bebensee went 1-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored and Twedt went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Moe walked once and scored once with a stolen base.
The win could set the tone for the Bobcats who will open the final week of the regular season by hosting Harrisburg on Monday afternoon. With three games against Sturgis, Spearfish and Rapid City Stevens to close the regular season this coming weekend, the Bobcats will look to polish their game as they prepare for the postseason.
I want to see some lockdown defense, great pitching on the mound and some adjustments at the plate, Hardin said. We need to get ready to see good pitching because thats all were going to see the rest of the season. So well need to be ready for that.
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