Paige McDaniel
HOPE — It was better late than never.
Hauser collected eight hits but stranded nine runners in the first five innings of the game, but then strung together the hits necessary in the sixth to rally for a 7-1 softball win against Rushville Monday night.
The Jets trailed 1-0 after four innings, but then tied the game in the bottom of the fifth before scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth.
“It was slow to get going. The defense was absolutely not slow to get going. Paige (McDaniel) did a great job tonight on the mound. Once again, we’re finding ways to get on base. It’s just stringing the consistent hits together,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said.
Rushville’s run in the top of the fourth came when Briley Munchel hit a double and then went to third on a Layla Shepherdson single. Shepherdson then tried to steal second but was tagged out. That throw to second allowed Munchel to score to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Hannah Taylor
The Jets (7-3) tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Izzy Brunner singled and later scored off a Hannah Taylor single to make it 1-1. The Jets then sealed the game with six runs in the next inning.
“We come off a game against Waldron (Thursday) and then going to that kind of pitching, it’s adjustments that they have to make, and they are capable of making those adjustments. They have to have the discipline to execute,” Andy Brunner said. “We finally figured it out. A win is a win. There’s some things we need to take away from and grow, and they’ll work through it.”
For Hauser, Taylor was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, Izzy Brunner was 2 for 3 with a double and Lucie Asher and Maley Jordan each went 2 for 4. The Jets totaled 13 hits in the game.
McDaniel earned the win, going seven innings and allowing one run on seven hits, and striking out nine.
“Last year, we peaked early, and then the battle became keeping them challenged. We haven’t come anywhere close to peaking, yet,” Andy Brunner said. “I’m hoping that plays in our favor where they keep climbing, and they keep fighting, and we hit that peak in late May and early June when we really, really need to.”
