In a softball slugfest that saw 31 hits and 41 runs, Philomath High came painfully close to posting its first win of the season Monday but came up one run short, 21-20, in its Oregon West Conference opener at North Marion.
Warriors junior Jenae Traglia had a career game with a 5-for-6 effort that included two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. Junior Zoee Howard pitched in with a grand slam home run.
North Marion scored what would turn out to be the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on a one-run single by Ella Stoddard. The run gave the Huskies a 21-18 lead as the game moved to the top of the seventh.
Philomath scored two quick runs to pull to within 21-20. Freshman Riley Mason opened the seventh by reaching on an error and came around to score when the next batter, junior Lilia Leman, also got on base by an error. Traglia then hit a double to left field to plate Leman.
Although Traglia was in scoring position with no outs, Philomath was not able to push the game-tying run across. After a line-drive out and junior Hannah Bennett was hit by a pitch, the game ended on a fly out to center field and a ground out to the shortstop.
Philomath’s 20 runs surpassed what the team had scored in its previous nine games combined (12).
In addition to Traglia, six other PHS players also had multiple-hit games — junior Laighla Hockema (3 for 5), Bennett (2 for 3, double, three RBIs), sophomore Emma May (2 for 4), freshman Haley King (2 for 5, two doubles, four RBIs), Riley Mason (2 for 5) and junior Kaylie Kohler (2 for 6).
Howard’s home run occurred in the second inning and gave the Warriors a 10-4 lead at the time. Bennett and Kohler singled and King reached on an error to set up Howard’s grand slam. Traglia hit a two-run shot in the third.
The Warriors later held a 16-7 lead going into the bottom of the fourth but the Huskies rallied for 13 runs over the next two innings and took a 20-18 lead to set up the sixth and seventh.
Junior Georgia Bouthal led North Marion (2-7 overall, 1-0 Oregon West) with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.
Philomath (0-10, 0-1) is scheduled to play Wednesday at Cascade.
