Moreland helps Wildcat softball to sweep of Wellsville
After losing a pair of games to one of the top teams in the Frontier League in Spring Hill earlier in the week, the Louisburg softball team needed to get back on the winning side of things.
The Wildcats did that in a big way Thursday during a home doubleheader against Wellsville. Louisburg got out to big leads in both games and were able to hold on for 4-3 and 7-6 victories over the Eagles.
“It’s always great to win two games and sweep a team,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We needed that after playing Frontenac, Ottawa and Spring Hill to start our season. I’m proud of how hard our girls fought to win those two games. It came down to us playing great defense in top of the 7th, in both games, to win those.
“Wellsville is young but they have some girls that are going to do some good things as they get older. The top of their lineup can swing it pretty well. They had more hits than us in the second game and we had really had to dig deep to go get those wins. I’m so proud of our girls for how they battled, came together, and pulled it off.”
Louisburg pitcher Izzy Moreland gave the Wildcats some good innings on the mound in the both games — one as a starter and one in relief.
Moreland started the opener and got the complete game victory as she allowed three earned runs on five hits and struck out five.
Then, after senior Megan Quinn gave the Wildcats a four-inning, seven strikeout performance in the second game, Moreland came on in relief and pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to preserve the win.
Ahead by just a run, and runners on second and third with no outs, Moreland struck out the next three batters to help the Wildcats secure the sweep.
“Izzy was huge for us on the mound,” Chapman said. “She threw the whole first game with 99 pitches, and the second game our whole pitching staff worked as a team and got the job done. Megan started for us and did a fantastic job as always. They figured her out about the fifth inning, then Raeya (Keagle) came in and threw really well. She does a great job of getting weak contact for our defense to make plays. She did her job and then Izzy came in and finished it up on the mound.”
In the opener, Louisburg jumped out to a a 4-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning thanks to an RBI double from junior Addy Stohs in the second. Quinn then followed it up with another RBI double in the third.
It would be all the runs the Wildcats would need as they held off a late Eagle rally that saw them cut it to one with two runs in the sixth inning.
Stohs led the Wildcat bats with two hits and an RBI, while Quinn and Moreland also had RBI hits.
It was much of the same in the nightcap as Louisburg jumped on Wellsville early and took a 7-1 lead into the top of the third.
Quinn had an another big day at the plate with two hits, a double and 4 RBIs. Senior Rylee Hickey also had two hits and an RBI, while senior Jenna Cauthon had a double and scored twice.
Sophomore Shyloh Waite also contributed a triple in the win and drove home a run.
“Megan is just swinging it really well right now,” Chapman said. “I know that when she’s up to bat, she’s going to hit it hard somewhere. If she has a bad at bat, she’s going to make an adjustment and fix it for her next at bat. She was a giant part of why we got out to a 7-1 lead to start the second game with 4 RBIs.
“Jenna and Addy are in the same boat. They are finding ways to make solid contact and do some damage at the plate. We have had some really great offensive innings this year. Now we just need to be more consistent about it.”
Louisburg (3-4) will try and continue its winning ways Tuesday as the Wildcats travel to Bonner Springs for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.
Wildcats drop pair to Spring Hill
Louisburg hosted Spring Hill for a doubleheader on April 2 and the Broncos showed why they are one of the top teams in the Frontier League.
Spring Hill swept the Wildcats in a pair of 13-2 and 16-5 victories.
Louisburg took a 2-1 after one inning in the first game, but the Broncos scored six times in the second and third innings to put the game out of reach.
Spring Hill’s Jaleigh White got the complete victory in the opener and had three home runs between the two games, including a grand slam.
Shyloh Waite and Ashley Moreau each had two RBIs to lead the Wildcat offense the second game. Jenna Cauthon and Izzy Moreland each had two hits.