Four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning broke open a close game Monday afternoon when International Falls’ softball team won at home against North Woods, 10-5.
“I think our kids got a little bit more patient there in the end,” said Broncos head coach Kevin Gordon. “We were trying to get kids to make sure that they were hitting strikes and adjust to the pitching.”
Olivia Santee went 2-4 for the Falls with a double and a triple. Morgan Bruess and Sam Hams also had multiple hits as Hams added 3 RBI.
Santee drove in Falls’ first run in the bottom of the first when nine Bronco batters went to the plate as part of a 3-run inning.
Fielding miscues proved costly for the Falls in the top of the second when the Grizzlies took the lead as they batted around the order and scored all five of their runs.
“Defensively, we had one bad inning, but other than that we were OK,” Gordon said.
The Broncos got a run back in the bottom of the second, then pulled in front by a run in the fourth when Santee led off the inning with a triple.
Freshman Teagan Anderson pitched a complete game in her first start for the Falls and also recorded her first victory after allowing the 5 runs on 3 hits while striking out nine.
“She did a good job,” Gordon said. “She threw the ball across the plate.”
Greenway 10, I. Falls 2
Anderson made her first varsity pitching appearance in relief last Thursday when the Broncos lost a road game against Greenway, 10-2.
Bruess took the pitching loss after giving up 7 hits and striking out two.
Of Falls’ 8 hits, Santee recorded 2 doubles, while Shawna Misner had a double and freshman Meghan Tomczak added a pair of hits.
The 2-2 Broncos return to action this Thursday when they host a doubleheader against Lake of the Woods and then open Friday’s Iron Range Conference Tournament in Grand Rapids against Hibbing.
Monday’s results
NW 0-5-0 0-0-0 0 — 5
IF 3-1-0 2-0-4 X — 10
Thursday’s results
IF 0-0-0 0-1-1 0 — 2
GW 2-0-7 1-0-0 X — 10
