By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden softball stretched its win streak to four games Tuesday, taking a 7-4, 10-0 home non-league doubleheader sweep over Osage City.
Sophomore Blakely Walter picked up the pitching win and hit a home run in Hayden's 7-4 first-game win over Osage City and delivered the game-winning hit in a 10-0 second-game win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Osage City entered Tuesday's games with a 13-1 record, but Hayden survived a late-game Indians rally in the first game after building an early lead and then dominated the second game for a five-inning run-rule victory.
"I think we're really getting to be smarter,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "We've talked a lot about being tough and we've definitely become tougher and also just playing smarter.
"I think we're making progress.''
Hayden, now 11-5 overall, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opener before getting back-to-back home runs from junior Emberly Connell and sophomore Blakely Walter to go in front 3-0 in the third.
Hayden added three runs in the fifth and a run in the sixth to build a 7-1 advantage, but Osage City rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh before the Wildcats were able to close out the victory.
Sophomore Carly McAlister-Mauldin had three hits for the Wildcats, including a double, while Walter picked up the pitching victory.
Hayden put the nightcap away early, scoring three runs in the first, four in the second and two in the third to open up a 9-0 advantage before Walter stroked a run-scoring single to end the game in the fifth by way of the 10-run spread.
Sophomore Carly McAlister-Mauldin had a big day for Hayden in Tuesday's doubleheader sweep over Osage City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Maura Valdivia went the the distance for a five-hitter for the Wildcats while McAlister-Mauldin went 2 for 4 with a home run and a double and Connell went 3 for 4 with a triple.
Senior Emily Peterson went 3 for 3 and Walter had a pair of hits.
Hayden will travel to Royal Valley on Saturday for a three-game tournament.
