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Washington Evening Journal
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Warriors use late surge to fly by Falcons
Van Buren County scores seven runs in final two innings to blister West Burlington
WEST BURLINGTON — 2010.
That’s the last time that Van Buren County got the better of West Burlington on softball field, until Tuesday.
For over four innings, the Warriors trailed the Falcons, but a late surge in the final innings of the Southeast Conference South bout pushed Van Buren County over the top 16-10.
Just under a month ago, the Falcons topped the Warriors 17-2.
The Falcons plated five runs in the first frame on a pair of RBI doubles and a three-run home run by Madelyn Thomas.
By the end of the second inning, West Burlington held a commanding 7-1 lead.
However Van Buren County wouldn’t go down swinging.
After a scoreless third inning, Van Buren County’s Lexee Fritz opening the top of the fourth frame with a leadoff double and before long the Warriors deficit was at just two runs, 7-5.
The Warriors took advantage of pitching struggles by Falcon ace Lauren Summers.
Summers walked eight of the 14 batters she faced before she was taken out and replaced by Thomas.
An inning later, and Van Buren County jumped ahead 9-7 off three Falcon errors, an RBI double from Ashlynn Huff and a Annabelle Cormier RBI single.
The Falcons answered back in the bottom of the fifth frame to send it into the sixth knotted at 10-10.
West Burlington once again made a pitching change, electing to bring Summers back in.
She again struggled to find the zone and walked three straight before the Warrior’s Ally Campbell and Huff delivered a pair of two-run singles to make it 14-10.
The Warriors added two more to seal the victory and Campbell, who started in the circle for the Warriors, closed it out.
Ashlynn Huff led the Warriors, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Ivy Davison and Ally Campbell both finished with a hit and two RBIs.
Callie Kracht and Annabelle Cormier each had two hits and an RBI.
Sophia Jirak, Jade Balmer, Lexee Fritz and Addison Brauns all had a hit as well. Jirak and Balmer had RBIs as well.
Campbell and Brauns both pitched for VBC.
The two gave up a combined 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits, three walks and six strikeouts.
The Warriors improve to 13-5 with the victory.
