Philomath High School’s softball team really needed a victory.
Down 6-5 going into the bottom of the fourth Saturday afternoon against North Marion, the Warriors found themselves in a tight battle to try to find the win column and create a bright spot during what has been a challenging stretch.
Philomath responded. Mia Bennett, Janae Traglia and Briahna Ledbetter got aboard on walks, and then Grace Bennett, Ahnika Tryon and Hannah Bennett had singles. By the time the inning had ended, the Warriors held a 10-6 lead.
Grace Bennett drove in the go-ahead runs on a line drive to left field.
Three groundouts to second base in the top of the fifth followed and then Philomath scored five more in the bottom half to put the game out of reach. The Warriors ended up with a 15-7 win to the delight of a cheering crowd on the home field.
Philomath (2-10 overall, 1-2 Oregon West) will try to keep the momentum going this week with a home game Monday against Newport and then trips Wednesday to Sweet Home and Thursday to face North Marion for a second time.
The Warriors pounded out 11 hits in the victory over the Huskies. Tryon went 2 for 4 and scored three runs. Grace Bennett was 2 for 5 with four RBIs. Hannah Bennett had a hit and drove in three. In all, nine different PHS batters had hits in the game.
In the circle, Elizabeth Morales-Marquez, Adrianna Hunter and Ledbetter all made appearances. Ledbetter, the lone freshman on the varsity roster, allowed three hits and no earned runs during 3-2/3 innings of relief work and gets credit for the win.
Brookelynn Curths and Georgia Boughal led North Marion (1-6, 0-3) with two hits apiece.
