Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie Softball Social Media

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk softball team dropped both ends of a River Valley Conference doubleheader Monday night at Carr, Vincent, Gould Field in Kalona to No. 6 in Class 2A Iowa City Regina. Game one went the Regals way 10-4. Regina built a 4-0 lead with one in the first and three more in the third. The Hawks got on the board with a run in the bottom half when Sophie Miller drove in Dakota Mitchell on an RBI base hit. They could climb within two in the fifth using a walk to Izzy Kite, a Mitchell base hit, and back to back hit batters and a wild pitch from Regina starter Lily Nibaur. A second wild pitch in the inning led to the final out as the Golden Hawks were thrown out trying to steal another run at the plate. The Regals turned up the offense in the sixth and seventh, plating a combined six runs, on six hits, to stretch the lead to 10-2. The Golden Hawks got a pair of their own in their last at bat when Miller blasted a homer for the second game in a row, a two-run tape measure shot, to reach the final score.

The Hawks were out hit 13-8 in total. Eight of the nine Regals in the line up had a hit and eight of the nine scored a run. Gabby Sueppel drove in a pair on two hits and Avery Kies had three knocks. Niebaur threw a complete game, allowing four earned runs and striking out nine to take the win. Mitchell led the Mid-Prairie attack with three hits and turned a double play at short. Miller had Mid-Prairie’s only RBI. Kadence Grout took the loss in the circle, working all seven, walking two and striking out three.

The nightcap saw Regina methodically pull away to a big lead and Mid-Prairie frantically rally in their final at bat, but fall short 8-6. The Regals got single runs in the first and third innings, then followed that with three runs each in the fifth and sixth to lead 8-0. Down to their final three outs, the Golden Hawks put up six runs, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Mid-Prairie had seven hits, two for extra bases. Three belonged to Miller, including a double, three RBI and a run scored. Gabi Robertson and Brenna Jehle each drove in a run, Robertson scored once. Mitchell, Robertson, Jehle and Morgyn Bender all had hits. Mitchell scored twice, Tessa Bombei and Izzy Kite each came home once. Alena Snider saw her first action in the circle this season. The eighth grader went all seven, giving up 10 hits, five earned runs, five walks and seven Ks. Following the sweep, Mid-Prairie is 4-7 with a trip to state ranked Mount Vernon Tuesday.