ACGC softball fans can take solace in the fact that a year ago Earlham outscored the Chargers 25-0 in a double header and that this year our Chargers lost by scores of 9-1 and 8-4. So, if improvement is the primary objective, then Chargers fans can come away feeling pretty good about the games. Still, it's hard to take when the girls had 'em on the ropes in game two, and the Cardinals rallied to take the prize.

So, let's look at game two first. The Chargers jumped to a 3-0 lead in inning number two when they put together three hits (Savana Fuller's double, singles by Sierra O'Brien and Mady Kelsey) a walk, and a Cardinal error to come up with the trio of runs. After that the Charger bats were pretty quiet as Cardinal pitcher Mady Janssen fanned twelve ACGC batters and gave up just three singles throughout the rest of the game.

Still, the locals held a 3-1 lead heading into Earlham's sixth inning at bat. Then the roof caved in. The Cardinal rally included four hits, a walk, two Charger errors, and some good base running by the host school. Earlham batted around to score seven runs and when the dust cleared ACGC found itself on the short end of an 8-3 score.

The Chargers added one run to their score in its last at bat when Fuller walked, stole second, and score on a Cardinal error. But it was too little, too late, and Earlham prevailed by the 8-4 score.

Fuller pitched a solid five innings, giving up just one run while surrendering three hits. She walked five and struck out one Cardinal. Sophia Rouse relieved in the sixth and shutout the Cardinals in the seventh.

Game one was really never in doubt, as Earlham scored in every inning but the fifth. The lone Charger run was scored when Maddy Kelsey homered in the fourth inning. The only other real Charger threat came in the third inning when Reese Coffman and Kylie Young singled with one out. Both were advanced by Jorja Hoover's sac bunt, but a strike out ended the threat. Sierra O'Brien had the only other hit for ACG--a single in the sixth inning. Cardinal pithing was a major factor in their double win, as the Chargers struck out twenty two times on the day.

Fuller took the loss in the circle in game one, with Saige O'Brien pitching one inning in relief.

A busy Saturday awaits the Chargers, as they will travel to Atlantic and face three teams from the Hawkeye Ten Conference--Atlantic, Harlan, and Creston. Go Chargers!

First game score by inning: Second game score by inning:

Earlham 131 103 0--9 ACGC 300 000 1--4

ACGC 000 100 0--1 Earlham 100 007 0--8

Charger box score Charger box score

AB R H RBI AB R H RBI

JHoover 2 0 0 0 JHoover 3 0 1 0

SiO'Brien 2 0 1 0 SiO'Brien 3 2 1 1

SFuller 3 0 0 0 SFuller 3 2 1 0

GHoover 3 0 0 0 GHoover 4 1 0 0

Kelsey 3 1 1 1 Kelsey 4 0 2 1

Carrick 3 0 0 0 Carrick 2 0 0 0

Wetzel 2 0 0 0 Coffman 3 0 1 0

Dorsey 1 0 0 0 KyYoung 3 0 0 0

Coffman 3 0 1 0 Kintz 1 0 0 0

Young 2 0 1 0 TFuller 1 0 0 0

TFuller 0 0 0 0 SaO'Brien 1 0 0 0

KeYoung 0 0 0 0