Alpha 7 Outdoor Suppressor Day Marquee March 2024

Goodland Takes Pair from Lady Broncos

Russell-Victoria met up with Goodland on Thursday, April 28 in Russell to make up a doubleheader scheduled earlier in the month.
Russell-Victoria met up with Goodland on Thursday, April 28 in Russell to make up a doubleheader scheduled earlier in the month.

Game 1: Goodland 6, Russell-Victoria 4, 8 innings
Game 2: Goodland 8, Russell-Victoria 7

Playing their first home games in nearly a month and just their second home doubleheader of the season, the Russell-Victoria Lady Broncos Softball team played an entertaining twinbill against Goodland Thursday afternoon before a large crowd at Memorial Park.

Russell-Victoria battled throughout the afternoon but Goodland prevailed in both games, winning Game 1, 6-4 in 8 innings after being down to their final strike in the top of the seventh inning and then holding on for an 8-7 victory in the nightcap.

Game 1 started out as a pitcher's duel between Brooklyn Nowak of Russell-Victoria and Jaxi Mitchek of Goodland as the contest was scoreless for the first three and a half innings.  Then Nowak put the Lady Broncos on top with their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, a one-out inside the park home run.    Russell-Victoria increased the margin to 2-0 with another tally in the bottom of the fifth on a Cowgirl error.

After Goodland knotted the score with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth frame, Russell-Victoria regained the lead with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning on two more Goodland errors.  Nowak easily retired the first two Goodland batters she faced in the top of the seventh inning but then the Cowgirls got off the mat and tied the game again with a walk, a hit and two Russell-Victoria errors.

Goodland's winning runs came in the top of the eighth on a two-run inside the park home run by Haley Biermann and Mitchek survived back-to-back walks with two out in the bottom of the eighth by striking out Marissa Myers to end the game and pick up the win while Nowak was dealt with the tough luck loss.

In Game 2, Goodland bolted out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first off starting and losing pitcher Tionna Napue and extended the lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the top of the third inning.  

Russell-Victoria fought back with three runs in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout by Nowak and a two-run single by Haylee Powers to cut the deficit to 5-3.  The Lady Broncos pulled to within 5-4 an inning later on Napue's RBI double.

Goodland responded with a three-run outburst in the top of the fifth to stretch their lead to 8-4 before Russell-Victoria countered with a single run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Harlee Donovan.  Russell-Victoria cut the Goodland lead to 8-7 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on consecutive RBI singles by Nowak and Donovan.  The game could have been tied but Napue was called out earlier in the inning when she left second base too early after swiping the bag.  

Goodland was denied an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Biermann appeared to score on a sacrifice fly but was called out for tagging up too early from third base.  Mitchek then saved the game for winning pitcher Allison Daise by retiring the Lady Broncos in order in the bottom of the seventh to finish off the sweep.  

Russell-Victoria (7-7) will next be in action on Thursday, May 5 when they host Southeast of Saline at Memorial Park for a doubleheader.  First pitch for Game 1 is set for 4 p.m.