A two-out double in the fifth inning by senior Courtney Ainsworth propelled the Shawano Community High School softball team to a 9-1 victory Thursday against visiting Oconto Falls.
With the score tied at 1, Ainsworth doubled in leadoff hitter Saige Henning and subsequently scored on a single by freshman Brianna Zook.
“Her swing in the fifth was the key swing of the night,” Shawano coach Kevin Isaacson said. “She is a senior leader and did what needed to be done tonight.”
Ainsworth was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs.
Before the Hawks’ rally, the game was a pitching duel between Shawano freshman Erin Cerveny and Oconto Falls sophomore MaKenna Kussow.
Cerveny pitched a complete game, striking out six and walking none while allowing five hits and one earned run. She held the Panthers to three hits over the final four innings, when only one runner reached beyond second base.
“She did what she had to do: throw strikes, keep the ball down and let our defense do the work,” Isaacson said. “That was the recipe for success.”
Senior Liz Manns scored the Panthers’ only run on a double by senior Holly Virtues in the first inning.
Shawano got on the board in the bottom of the second. Junior Julia Beck (1-3) scored following a single, two stolen bases and a fielder’s choice.
After taking control in the fifth, the Hawks bolstered their lead with six runs in the sixth inning on another two-out rally. Crossing the plate were Henning (2-4, two runs), Alli Raddant (2-4, RBI), Courtney Ainsworth, Zook (1-3, BB, RBI), Nicki Ainsworth (2-3, double, RBI) and Cerveny (0-4, two RBIs).
Oconto Falls coach Rochell Otto said fielding miscues led to the team’s downfall in the sixth inning.
“This was a very good high school softball game up to the sixth inning” she said. “Unfortunately, we made a couple of mistakes physically and mentally in that inning.”
Kussow gave up three earned runs on 11 hits in six innings for the Panthers (2-5, 1-4 Bay). She struck out five and walked three.
The win moved Shawano (4-4, 3-1 Bay) into a second-place tie with Luxemburg-Casco in the Bay Conference.
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