One big inning and great pitching Wednesday night pushed #2 in class 3A Mid-Prairie to a spotless 5-0 in Cedar Valley Conference play as they held off #2 in class 2A Durant 3-2 in Kalona. Both squads had scoring chances in the first three innings but neither could break through as they stranded a combined eight runners in those frames. The Golden Hawks scored first with three runs on four hits in the fourth inning.

Taylor Kurtz singled to lead off the inning, followed by an Amber Kral double. Michelle Erwin singled to drive in Kurtz and the big blow of the inning was a Mallory McArtor two out, two RBI triple, giving Mid-Prairie the 3-0 lead and chasing Wildcat starter Anna Bentley. Durant did not let the Golden Hawks keep momentum for long as they struck with two runs of their own in their next at bat when Sidney Lilienthal sent a full count pitch over the right field fence for a two run homer. Durant would put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the sixth and the tying run on base in the seventh but Olivia Lugar would work through both jams to preserve the Golden Hawk win.

Lugar recorded the win for Mid-Prairie going the distance allowing five hits, two runs, walking three and striking out seven. Following the game Head Coach Justin Lutjen talked about the performance of his senior ace.

“You know I think may have been one of her best performances this year, she mixed it up well and more importantly she hit the corners and her rise ball was working. Putting all of that together she is very tough to hit,” Lutjen said.

Bentley took the loss, her first of the season allowing three runs on six hits, and walking three in three and two thirds innings of work. Mid-Prairie was led offensively by McArtor’s two hits and two RBI. She spoke after the game about the approach against Bentley and Durant.

“Anna [Bently] was a change from Paige [Compton], and Anna pitches very well, she has good speed and she has good movement, but at that at bat I knew that I had to chase it and I took the ball to the right side and
got my triple out of it,” McArtor said.

With the win Mid-Prairie moves to 10-4 on the season and is a perfect 5-0 in the CVC, they will next be in action tonight when they host Tipton.