MONTICELLO - Ninth-ranked Belmont pulled out a 1-0 win in a pitcher's duel against Monticello Thursday.
Monticello senior Courtney Leuzinger pitched a complete game and gave up just one run on three hits. She struck out seven and walked one. Belmont (13-3) scored one run in the top of the seventh inning to win it.
Belmont's Paige Nolan was just as impressive. Nolan tossed a two-hit shutout. She struck out six and walked one.
"We have never seen her before," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "She's a great pitcher. She had a heck of a changeup. Two times through the lineup, she fooled us on changeups."
The two hits for the Ponies came on Leuzinger's triple in the first and sophomore Jessie Garrison's double in the fifth.
"We hit the ball hard," Garrison said. "We just didn't get the big hit."
With the loss, Monticello drops to 10-5, 7-4 Six Rivers East.
Iowa-Grant 16, Darlington 7
DARLINGTON - Iowa-Grant pounded out 13 hits and rolled to a 16-7 win over Darlington Thursday.
Darlington jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run first inning. The Redbirds led 4-3 before the Panthers got going. The Panthers erupted for 13 runs in the third to cruise to the victory.
Darlington's Taylor Cox went 2-for-3 with a triple to lead the Redbirds.
Parkview 5, Brodhead 4
BRODHEAD - The Brodhead softball team committed four errors and Orfordville Parkview edged the Cardinals 5-4 in a Rock Valley South Conference game Thursday.
Brodhead senior Payton Wright went 2-for-3 with two RBI and junior Amber Pickel was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Brodhead senior Brooke Boegli pitched a complete game. She gave up five runs, but just two earned runs on six hits. She struck out seven and didn't issue a walk. With the loss, Brodhead drops to 2-8, 2-7 Rock Valley South.
Belleville 3, Wis. Heights 2
BELLEVILLE - The Wildcats scored three runs in the first inning and withstood a rally to knock off Wisconsin Heights 3-2.
Belleville's Cassidy Heller pitched a complete game and gave up two earned runs on eight hits. She struck out one and didn't issue a walk.
The Vanguards limited the Wildcats to just two hits - Allie Kowalski's RBI single in the first and a double by junior Tara Hanna.
With the win, Belleville improves to 6-8, 3-6 Capitol South.
Monticello senior Courtney Leuzinger pitched a complete game and gave up just one run on three hits. She struck out seven and walked one. Belmont (13-3) scored one run in the top of the seventh inning to win it.
Belmont's Paige Nolan was just as impressive. Nolan tossed a two-hit shutout. She struck out six and walked one.
"We have never seen her before," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "She's a great pitcher. She had a heck of a changeup. Two times through the lineup, she fooled us on changeups."
The two hits for the Ponies came on Leuzinger's triple in the first and sophomore Jessie Garrison's double in the fifth.
"We hit the ball hard," Garrison said. "We just didn't get the big hit."
With the loss, Monticello drops to 10-5, 7-4 Six Rivers East.
Iowa-Grant 16, Darlington 7
DARLINGTON - Iowa-Grant pounded out 13 hits and rolled to a 16-7 win over Darlington Thursday.
Darlington jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run first inning. The Redbirds led 4-3 before the Panthers got going. The Panthers erupted for 13 runs in the third to cruise to the victory.
Darlington's Taylor Cox went 2-for-3 with a triple to lead the Redbirds.
Parkview 5, Brodhead 4
BRODHEAD - The Brodhead softball team committed four errors and Orfordville Parkview edged the Cardinals 5-4 in a Rock Valley South Conference game Thursday.
Brodhead senior Payton Wright went 2-for-3 with two RBI and junior Amber Pickel was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Brodhead senior Brooke Boegli pitched a complete game. She gave up five runs, but just two earned runs on six hits. She struck out seven and didn't issue a walk. With the loss, Brodhead drops to 2-8, 2-7 Rock Valley South.
Belleville 3, Wis. Heights 2
BELLEVILLE - The Wildcats scored three runs in the first inning and withstood a rally to knock off Wisconsin Heights 3-2.
Belleville's Cassidy Heller pitched a complete game and gave up two earned runs on eight hits. She struck out one and didn't issue a walk.
The Vanguards limited the Wildcats to just two hits - Allie Kowalski's RBI single in the first and a double by junior Tara Hanna.
With the win, Belleville improves to 6-8, 3-6 Capitol South.
