Union began its softball season with a win over the Borgia Lady Knights.
And, on Wednesday, Union ended Borgia’s season with a 14-7 victory in the opening round of the Class 3 District 9 Tournament in Sullivan.
Union (16-5), the second seed in the tournament, used a huge start to jump to an advantage Borgia (10-14) could not overcome.
Borgia scored first with a run in the top of the first inning, but Union scored five times in the first, five in the second and one run in the third to move into position to end the game early on the mercy rule.
“I thought we got off to a good start offensively scoring five runs in the first,” said Union Head Coach Bill Juengel. “We had some pretty good at-bats and a number of hard hits throughout the game. Hopefully we can keep it going the rest of the week.”
Facing its final three outs in the top of the fifth inning, Borgia responded with six runs to cut the deficit to 10-7.
“It was the fifth inning that supplied all the excitement,” Borgia Head Coach Stan Westhoff said. “Getting back into the game took a little of the sting out of having not won it.”
Union added two runs in the bottom of the fifth and one in the sixth to secure the victory.
“There were some positives to be taken away including the two-run homer by Rachel Boley,” Westhoff said. “But the most important aspect of the game was the revelation that the game really isn’t over until the last out is recorded. This lesson will carry over into next year.”
Kirsten Dierberg, Briana Lakebrink, Karissa Peth and Brooke Ruether each had two hits for Union.
Megan Altemueller, Tori Fleming and Courtney Zweifel had one hit apiece.
Ruether homered and doubled. Zweifel hit a double.
Lakebrink scored four runs while Altemueller and Peth crossed the plate two times apiece. Peth and Ruether each drove in three runs. Dierberg and Zweifel closed with two RBIs apiece.
Zweifel walked three times and Sam Wickes walked twice. Lakebrink and Zweifel stole bases. Ruether added a sacrifice.
Ruether pitched 6.2 innings of the game, allowing two runs on three hits and six walks. She struck out eight.
Sheena Carroll pitched one out, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks.
Cali Witte had two hits for Borgia while Amber Blumenfeld, Taylor Nadler, Swoboda and Bole each had one hit.
Witte, Blumenfeld, Boley, Nadler, Swoboda, Elizabeth Westhoff and Brianna Hanneken scored runs. Boley drove in two.
Boley, Nadler, Swoboda, Westhoff, Jodi Glosemeyer and Chelsea Kleekamp walked. Kelli Arens stole a base and sacrificed.
Witte started the game and took the loss, allowing seven runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks.
Swoboda pitched five innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits and six walks. She struck out five.
The season turned into a positive one for the Lady Knights despite being seeded last for the district tournament.
Borgia ended with 10 wins and went 3-5 in its first season in the Archdiocesan Athletic Association to finish third in the large division.
