Parkside 4, Upper Iowa 3
Minnesota Duluth 3, Parkside 0
The Parkside softball team continued their weekend at the Rosemont Dome Invitational with a pair of games against the Upper Iowa Peacocks and the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The Rangers came out strong offensively in game one, which led to a victory to start the day. The offense struggled to get going in the second game, and the Bulldogs came away with the shutout win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS UPPER IOWA
The Rangers got on the board in the top half of the first with an RBI single from Meagan Maza, with Cassie Rutledge scoring on the play. The Peacocks responded with a run in the bottom of the first, scoring on a throwing error.
 
The Rangers were rolling in the top of the second, with Rylee Baetz and Jadynn Powell scoring on a triple from Taylor Delgado. Delgado would later score on a passed ball to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead. Parkside starting pitcher Ellie Curtis settled in in the second inning, keeping the Peacocks off the scoreboard and stranding two runners on base.
 
Baetz launched a two-out double to right center field in the third inning, but was left stranded as the Rangers went scoreless for the first time today. The Peacocks started a one-out rally in their half of the third, knocking back-to-back singles off Curtis. Curtis forced a pop out to Delgado at short, and a fly out to Dani Evans in left center to leave two runners strand for the second consecutive inning.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning.
 
Olivia Masnica entered the game in the fifth inning as a relief pitcher. A first pitch hit and a stolen base gave the Peacocks a runner in scoring position early in the inning. The Peacocks found themselves with second and third with two outs, and a single to left center would plate both runners to make it a 4-3 ballgame.
 
Masnica settled in during her second inning of work, allowing just one hit in the sixth inning and stranding the tying run at third. The Rangers went into the seventh inning holding a one-run lead.
 
The Rangers went one-two-three in the top half of the seventh and needed a strong defensive inning. The first batter for the Peacocks reached base on a hit by pitch. A base hit made it first and second with no one out. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, placing the potential winning runner on second with only one out. A fly ball was it to left field. Rutledge got under to make the catch and fired a throw home as the tying run broke for the plate. The throw was right on target as catcher Alex Wooten laid down the tag to win the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS MINNESOTA DULUTH
The Rangers were held scoreless in the top of the first, and the Bulldogs drew first blood in the bottom of the inning, as a run scored before the Rangers could convert a 6-3-5 double play to end the inning.
 
After a one-two-three inning on the offensive end, the Rangers bounced back defensively in the home half of the second. Starter Kiley Akey settled in and got a one-two-three inning of her own, striking out two in the inning.
 
Duluth starting pitcher Lauren Dixon was dealing by the third inning, as she struck out the side in order. Back-to-Back singles to lead off the inning had the Bulldogs rolling to start the bottom of the third. A fielder's choice made the situation first and third one out. A grounder to Delgado at shortstop led to a throw home to get the runner out on another fielder's choice. Akey was then able to force a grounder to third, which was taken care of easily and the crisis was averted.
 
Ground balls ruled the top half of the fourth, as Delgado and Rutledge both grounded out to second base. Wooten got the Rangers first hit of the game with a bouncing ball down the third base line. The Rangers first run would have to wait, however, as Maza would pop up to second base to end the inning. A handful of singles would plate two more runs for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning, giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. A double play from Delgado to Maza would end the inning.
 
The Rangers found some momentum with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, as Baetz walked and Johnson singled to put the tying run on base. The rally went away unceremoniously, with Maza hitting a fly ball too high, causing it to hit off the dome for an automatic out. The Rangers still trailed by three heading into the bottom of the fifth. Akey earned a one-two-three inning, which featured a great diving catch in right field by Powell.
 
Both sides were set down in order in the sixth inning, leaving the Rangers in a 3-0 hole heading into the seventh inning. Maza flied out to left to open the inning. Akey flied out to center. Head Coach Krisitin Ortman looked to the bench for a last hope, pinch hitting Tia Livernash with two outs. Livernash struck out swinging to end the game.
 
HEAR FROM COACH ORTMAN
"Another really strong start for us today against Upper Iowa. Our offense got rolling early and helped us jump out to an early lead. Ellie and Olivia did a nice job on the mound of holding their offense to a minimum. They made a push at the very end, but a great defensive play from Cassie and Alex sealed the deal.
 
We struggled to get the offense going against Duluth in the second game. Kiley pitched well against a really strong lineup, but we just couldn't help her out on the offensive end."
 
UP NEXT FOR THE RANGERS
The Rangers return to action on Sunday as they take on William Jewell at 8 a.m. and Lewis at 10 a.m. at the Rosemont Dome in Rosemont, Ill. For more information, visit parksiderangers.com.