The Washington Demon softball team welcomed sixth-ranked Oskaloosa to town last night, losing by scores of 3-2 and 11-8.

Game one was a thriller.  Washington got out to a quick start in the first, getting runners on first and third with one out.  The Demons failed to capitalize when Megan Mitchell lined out to the shortstop and Kaitlin Mitchell was caught off the bag over at first for a double play.  They also had runners on second and third in the fifth, but a flyout to first and a groundout sealed the deal for the Demons in that inning.

Then came the sixth.  The Demons were down three nothing, but got the bases loaded with nobody out.  Two straight groundouts to the pitcher got two potential runs out at the plate, but then Molly Sparks came up and cracked a two-RBI double to right-center field to cut the deficit to one.

Osky was held scoreless in the top half of the seventh, and Washington came back in the bottom half to load the bases with one out.  But the seventh inning ended exactly the same way as the first, with a lineout and a throw over to first for a double play, nipping the Demons’ rally in the bud and ending the game with a score of 3-2.

Molly Sparks was terrific in the circle, throwing seven innings of five-hit, three-run softball while striking out three.  She also led the way at the plate, going 1-3 with both of the teams’ runs scoring off her bat.

Osky would then take game two as well by a score of 11-8, completing the sweep and moving the Demons to 6-12 on the season.  Their next games come Thursday night as they hit the road to take on Southeast Conference foe Mount Pleasant.  Coverage for that one will begin at 5:00 with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show, with first pitch scheduled for 5:30.