Softball: Royals put up early run to win Mudsock

Rocks fall to Millers, Huskies take down Northwestern, Hounds fall to Zionsville

The REPORTER

After one early run, this year’s Mudsock softball game turned into a pitcher’s duel.

Hamilton Southeastern’s Grace Swedarsky and Fishers’ Kate Murray both had strong performances in the Mudsock contest, which took place Wednesday at the Royals’ field. Southeastern scored that one run in the first inning and that turned out to be enough for a 1-0 victory over the Tigers.

Lani Wyrick led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second base and advanced to third base on an Addy Justice groundout. Wyrick scored on Jenna Chase’s RBI groundout. Chase later hit a fourth-inning single.

“Any way you can score, you got to get one in,” said Royals coach Casie Fletcher.

The remainder of the game was the duel between Swedarsky and Murray. Both were up to the challenge, as Swedarsky threw eight strikeouts against three hits and one walk. Swedarsky totaled 90 pitches for the game.

“I think I pitched decent,” said Swedarsky. She also enjoyed playing with the early run on the board – “it’s always better when you’re playing with the lead, because then you can just play more confidently,” said Swedarsky.

“She did well,” said Fletcher. “She always pitches well.” Fletcher also said the HSE defense did a “phenomenal job” behind Swedarsky.

Meanwhile, Murray tossed seven strikeouts, allowing two hits and no walks. She threw 82 pitches.

“She had a pretty good night tonight,” said Fishers coach Daren James. “She’s throwing a lot of strikes.”

Murray was 2-for-3 at the plate, while Tori Abel had one hit.

“We hit the ball really well,” said Fishers coach Daren James. “We got people in scoring position most of the innings. We just couldn’t get that ball in the dirt to get the run home from third there a couple of times.”

The game was also a Hoosier Crossroads Conference contest. Southeastern is 2-0 in HCC play and 11-3 overall. The Royals play Friday at Pendleton Heights.

Fishers is 1-2 in the conference and 9-6 overall. The Tigers host Mount Vernon this afternoon.

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Noblesville beat Westfield 8-5 in a Wednesday HCC game at the Millers’ field.

Noblesville scored three runs in the first inning. Gabby Fowler’s left field line drive scored Delaney Rundle, then Mack Harvey sent a home run to center field, also bringing Fowler home.

The Shamrocks got their first run in the top of the third inning when R Mahannah scored. The Millers put up two runs in the fourth when Fowler smashed a double into left field, sending Nevaeh Nash and Rundle home. That put Noblesville ahead 5-1.

Westfield added two runs in the fifth inning. Mahannah scored her second run when Ava Kainrath was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Makayla Watson got home on Grace Fanelli’s RBI fielder’s choice, and the Rocks were within 5-3.

But the Millers got both those runs back in the bottom of the fifth when Makayla Jacquay smacked a double to score Izzy Zapp and Rundle; it was Rundle’s third run of the game. Noblesville added a sixth inning run when Addi Emmerson singled in Macie Duvall.

The Shamrocks scored two more in the seventh inning. Watson got home on a wild pitch, then Cara Snedeker singled in Kainrath. Claire Cullen got a strikeout to finish the game.

Fowler and Zapp both had two hits. Cullen pitched a complete game, striking out 10.

Kainrath had two hits; both she and Fanelli hit a double. Chloe Tanner went four and two-thirds innings, striking out four.

Noblesville is unbeaten in the conference at 4-0 and is 7-7 overall. The Millers play this afternoon at Pendleton Heights. Westfield is 1-3 in HCC play and 7-6 overall. The Shamrocks host Yorktown this afternoon.

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Hamilton Heights picked up an away Hoosier Conference East victory Wednesday, beating Northwestern 6-3.

The Tigers scored a run in the third inning, but the Huskies tied the game right away in the fourth inning: Hailey Hall scored on an error. Lily Roush got home on a passed ball in the top of the fifth to put Heights ahead 2-1, but Northwestern scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to move ahead 3-2.

Heights took control in the sixth inning, scoring four runs. Lily Cash singled in Heather Crays to tie the game, then Cash scored the go-ahead run when Roush reached on error. Hannah Dent got home on a wild pitch, then Kassidy Schakel brought Roush in with a single.

Cash had three hits for the game, with Dent and Hall both getting two hits. Cash started the game in the circle, going three and two-thirds innings with four strikeouts. Roush relieved her and threw five strikeouts in three and a third innings.

The Huskies are 3-2 in division play and 8-4 overall. Heights hosts Beech Grove Friday in a re-match of last year’s regional championship.

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Carmel dropped a 7-0 game at Zionsville Wednesday.

The Eagles held the Greyhounds to two hits, both of them from Alex Longstreth.

Carmel is 4-12 and hosts Tri-West tonight.