By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Hayden softball team took two home games from Centennial League foe Emporia Wednesday in a makeup date from the previous day, improving to 5-1 on the season.
Hayden sophomore Maura Valdivia picked up the Wildcats' 5-2 first-game pitching victory over Emporia. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Sophomore Olivia Kennedy went the distance for the pitching win in Hayden's 11-3 victory over Emporia. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Wildcats limited Emporia to just five runs in the doubleheader, which gave the Hayden offense time to get cranked up after being shut out the first four innings of the opener.
Hayden rallied for four runs in the fifth inning to come from behind to win the opener 5-2. Junior Emily Peterson put the Wildcats ahead, breaking a 1-1 tie in the fifth with a single that drove in two runs.
The Wildcats struck early in the second game, plating three runs in the first inning. They poured on six more runs in the fourth inning and won going away, 11-3.
Junior Emily Peterson starred in Hayden's twinbill sweep over emporia. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Peterson was again in the middle of the rally, blasting a two-RBI double in the fourth.
“We had a lot of energy, talking a lot,” Peterson said. “Our pitchers did good. We had their backs on defense.”
Junior Emmy Jeffers threw the first four innings of the opener before giving way to sophomore Maura Valdivia, who picked up the victory.
Sophomore Olivia Kennedy recorded the Wildcats’ first complete game of the season in the second game.
“This year, we’ve got four pitchers that we can rely on,” Hayden coach Cody Reynolds said. “Last year, we were in a bind. We didn’t have a lot of pitching to keep us in the games, so it was tough last year watching some of that.”
The Wildcats, whose lone loss on the season came to Burlington, are a more balanced team this year, according to the coach.
“This year, I know we’ve got good hitters, and we’ve got the pitching. So, I’m really excited about this team,” Reynolds said.
“I feel good so far about this year,” Peterson added. “I love these girls. They’re so fun to be around. We’re always up and have energy.”
GAME 1
HAYDEN 5, EMPORIA 2
Emporia 010 001 0 — 2 5 1
Hayden 000 041 X — 5 8 2
Barrett and Arrington. Jeffers, Valdivia (5) and Connell. W — Valdivia. L — Barrett. 2B — Emporia: Ulteras. Hayden: Carswell.
GAME 2
HAYDEN 11, EMPORIA 3
Emporia (2-4) 020 100 0 — 3 2 6
Hayden (5-1) 310 601 X — 11 6 3
Barrett and Moore. Kennedy and Carswell. W — Kennedy. L — Barrett. 2B — Emporia: Williams. Hayden: McAlister, Peterson, Connell.
