In an offensive battle last night, the Hillcrest Academy softball team picked up their third win of the season and second of the week as they downed the Winfield-Mount Union Wolves 16-12.

After surrendering one run in the first, Hillcrest responded with three in the bottom half and three more in the second to go up 6-1. Winfield never surrendered, cutting the deficit to two, before the Ravens plated seven in the bottom of the fifth to pull away. Malia Yoder and Morgyn Nafziger applied the one-two punch at the plate all night. Yoder went 2-4, knocked in one, and scored three times. Nafziger had a game-high four runs scored and drove in three on her way to a 2-3 evening. For the second time in three games, Lydia Beachy led the Ravens with five RBI’s, clearing the bases with a double. Stavia Miller added her first RBI of the season while also ripping the first triple of the year for Hillcrest.

Yoder picked up her third win of the season on the rubber, striking out 5 as she went the distance. The defense backed Yoder up for all seven innings, as Adrianne Blauvelt, Erin Bontrager, and Delaney Shaw were just three of the many Ravens who flashed the leather in big spots.

Quin Smith entered the pitcher’s circle in the second for Winfield, pitching the final five inning, striking out four. The senior bats kept the Wolves in the game as Anna Anderson went 3-4, scoring three and driving in three. Keely Malone knocked in four, including a two-run home run in the seventh as the Wolves made a late charge. Ultimately falling short, Winfield-Mount Union dropped their fifth straight game following a season opening victory over Pekin.

With the win, Hillcrest improves to 3-2 on the year. The Ravens will now be put to the test, as they face four games in five days next week.