Maidens softball plays close, wins one

RONAN - The Ronan softball team suffered two losses last week, but managed a win over Corvallis.

Coach Tom Peterson was unavailable for comment before press time.

Last Tuesday, Columbia Falls got the best of Ronan in an 8-5 conference win.

Columbia Falls scored five runs before the Maidens got one across the plate. Ronan matched the Wildkats in the fourth as both teams scored two runs.

In the last three innings, Ronan outscored Columbia Falls 2-1, but the comeback wasn't enough.

Junior Katie Andrews went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

The Maidens went on to face Hamilton four days later, but lost 7-2.

Ronan was able to score two runs on two hits in the first inning. Sophomore Bethany Coleman singled and proceeded to second on a passed ball. Senior Chelsey Bourdon walked and both her and Coleman advanced a base on another passed ball.

Sophomore Payge Delaurenti singled as Coleman scored and Bourdon made it to third before scoring on a fielding error.

Hamilton rebounded with four runs at their turn at the plate.

Tough defense kept the game close for Ronan. The Maidens kept Hamilton off the scoreboard for four innings before Hamilton the Broncs rallied in the bottom of the sixth for three runs.

Coleman went the distance for Ronan walking two while striking out 10. At the plate, she went 2-for-3. Delaurenti posted two RBIs for Ronan.

The story was different a couple hours later against Corvallis in a 5-3 Ronan victory.

The Maidens scored one in the third before scoring four in the last three innings.

In the fifth inning, sophomore Lindsay Clairmont and Andrews each scored on errors for a 3-0 lead.

Corvallis battled back to score twice in the sixth before senior Brittani Clairmont hit a two-run single.

Ronan has a break before facing Frenchtown on May 11.