IMS softball strands 11 in loss to Lone Tree

There were opportunities for the Iowa Mennonite softball team to generate some runs on Wednesday afternoon, but they fell just short.

IMS left 11 baserunners stranded in the seven-inning game, falling to Lone Tree 3-0 in an afternoon game.

?I was telling them after the game, that it?s a sign of a good team when you feel pressure when you get up to bat, or when you are in the field,? IMS head coach Kathryn Ney said. ?They were feeling the pressure today, and that?s really fun. The pressure is from knowing we can do it. We missed some opportunities, but it was an entertaining game.?

IMS and Lone Tree were tight the whole way through the game, with the Lions grabbing a second-inning lead with the help of an IMS error.

IMS loaded the bases in the third inning with three straight singles, but couldn?t get anyone across, leaving them in a 1-0 hole.

The score remained still at 1-0, until the top of the sixth, when Lone Tree used two hits and an IMS error to score a pair of runs to extend their lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, IMS loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk, but a groundout ended the game.

The loss moves IMS to 6-9 as they approach the final games of the regular season, and after winning four of their last five games, they are feeling good about their ability.

?We said at the beginning of the season that we were going to grow up together,? Ney said. ?I switched some players around and a few are playing new positions. Then you have to trust everyone else. Every pitch, we know what we are doing, and that?s a lot of growing up.?

As IMS prepares for Thursday night?s contest against Van Buren, Ney is hoping her team continues their strong momentum.

?I?d like to see two more wins (on Thursday and Friday), and then we?ll focus on postseason,? Ney said. ?We?ll take our same approach, and we expect them to stay disciplined at the plate. On defense, we expect them to make plays and move on every pitch.?