Coming off a 17-run win against New London, Highland softball traveled to Columbus Junction last night seeking a season sweep of the Wildcats, and their second win in a row. While Columbus refused to make it easy, Highland escaped with the 5-1 victory.

It certainly didn’t take long for the Huskies to get on the board. A Sarah Burton double and Payton Brun single to begin the contest set the table for Adisyn Prottsman. The Highland DP plated Burton with a groundout to short to put the visitors up 1-0. Lily Coil, the Columbus pitcher, would escape the first with no more damage, and hold the Huskies scoreless in the next three frames.

It was still a matter of the Wildcats getting across the plate. Grace Prybil, who struck out 10 Columbus batters, allowed just five hits in the circle. Columbus was still able to manage a run in the third off two hits, a walk, and a Kennedy Woepking RBI. It was the only inning where Prybil would allow more than one hit, and one of only two frames where more than one runner reached safely against the senior.

Coil and Prybil battled through respective jams, but the 1-1 tie would finally be broken in the fifth. Lilly Barre scored following a one-out double, and after reaching safely on an error, Prottsman would cross as well. She was the only Husky in the lineup to not record a hit, but did have 2 driven in. A 3-1 lead was doubled in the seventh, highlighted by a Barre triple and a single from Kenzie Davis.

With three outs remaining, Aracely Garza dialed up a leadoff single, but was doubled-off one batter later on a line drive caught by Prybil. Her tenth strikeout of the game sealed the win, and improved Highland’s record to 15-8. Prybil picked up her 11th win of the year. Coil, who also went the distance, struck out six and walked just one in the loss.

Highland hosts WMU tomorrow, before traveling to Hillcrest Academy Friday. The Wildcats are due to face the same two opponents, but instead head to Winfield Friday and host the Ravens next week.