For much of the season, it has seemingly been a case of one step forward and two steps back for the Macomb High softball squad.
That scenario was played out in seven innings during Tuesday afternoon’s game against Monmouth-Roseville at the MHS softball field.
Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bombers rallied to take a 6-3 lead.
But as quick as Macomb grabbed the lead, it gave it away as Monmouth-Roseville scored five runs in its next at-bat. The Titans added a final run in the seventh in securing a 9-6 victory.
Monmouth-Roseville improved to 5-11 on the season.
“We’ve just got to stop giving (the lead) back to (the opposition),” said MHS coach Madelyn Belville. “We’ve done that a lot of the season.”
“We score three runs, we give them four. We get four runs, we give them six,” she added. “We have to stop that if we’re going to win games.”
“Those go back to the little thngs that we’ve been talking about all season.”
Two walks, a wild pitch and an error led to a run for the Titans in the top of the first.
The Bombers answered with a twoout rally in the bottom of the inning as Lauren Schmalshof singled before Kinley Sloan doubled to left.
Both runners scored when Lilyan Schmalshof singled to center on an 0-2 pitch, giving Macomb a 2-1 lead.
The score remained 2-1 until the top of the fourth when MRHS put together three singles to score the tying run.
The Titans took the lead in the top of the fifth as a walk, single, hit by pitch and fielder’s choice accounted for a run.
The Macomb offense came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four times in taking the lead.
Regan Knowles opened the inning with a double to left. Brooklyn Lyles followed with a single to center. Knowles was held up at third as the throw went home. That allowed Lyles to reach second.
Lauren Schmalshof followed with a double to center that scored Knowles and Lyles to give MHS a 4-3 lead.
One out later, Lilyan Schmalshof singled to center. Lauren Schmalshof was held at third as the throw went home. That allowed younger sister Lilyan to advance to second base.
Both Schmalshofs scored when Abigail Kwacala reached on an error by Titan second baseman Autumn Register, giving the Bombers a 6-3 lead.
It wouldn’t last however.
Two singles and a walk loaded the bases to open the inning. One runner scored on a passed ball before a second walk re-loaded the bases.
The third walk of the inning by MHS starter Josie Elbe forced home a run that made it 6-5.
A pair of errors by Sloan at short allowed two runs to score before the final run crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Titans added their final run in the seventh as a single and two ground outs put a runner on third base before a base hit by Nevaeh Stokes scored Olivia Register.
A base hit and a hit-by-pitch brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh for Macomb.
But Autumn Register struck out Kwacala on three pitches to end the contest.
Macomb out-hit MRHS 10-8, but four Bomber errors led to four unearned runs.
“They’ve got to make the adjustments,” Belville said of the players. “They know what they have to do. I’m just waiting for it to all come together.”
Elbe pitched her first complete game since returning from injury. She allowed nine runs, five earned, on eight hits. Elbe struck out four, walked six and hit a batter.
“She helped herself a lot early with little ground balls and all those things,” said Belville. “We were making the plays.”
Lauren Schmalshof had four hits, scoring twice and knocking in one run.
Lilyan Schmalshof added two hits and two RBIs, scoring once.
Knowles, Lyles and Sloan each had one hit and scored a run. Lilian Goc also had a hit for Macomb.
“If we get the lead, we can’t let off the gas,” said Belville. “We can’t let up any. We have to stay on it the whole seven (innings) instead of four or five or whatever it may be. That’s how you win.”
Carmyn Way knocked in three runs for MRHS. Stokes added two hits and two runs scored for the Titans. Adi Thornton also recorded two hits.
Jazmyn Copeland pitched five innings, allowing six runs, four earned, on nine hits, striking out three.
Autumn Register pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit, striking out three.
The Bombers returned to Prairieland Conference play Wednesday, heading to Farmington for a contest that was originally scheduled for Apr. 18, but postponed by inclement weather.
The Farmers posted a 12-1 victory in six innings.
MHS dropped to 3-12 overall, 2-2 in Prairieland play, while Farmington improved to 6-11 overall, 2-1 in league play.
The contest was scoreless until the bottom of the third when Farmington scored three runs.
The Farmers added three runs in the fourth and a single tally in the fifth. Farmington then closed out the contest by plating five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Macomb scored its run in the top of the fourth when Lauren Schmalshof singled before reaching third after a pair of passed balls. She scored when Lilyan Schmalshof singled to right.
Farmington out-hit Macomb 8-4 with the Bombers committing four errors that led to nine unearned runs.
Sloan and Starbuck added one hit for MHS.
Elbe pitched three innings, allowing three runs, none earned, on three hits. She struck out two and walked two.
Sloan pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing nine runs, three earned, on five hits with seven walks.
“We are young, but we can’t credit all (the struggles) to that,” said Belville. “They know what they’ve got to do and they’ve got to figure out how to play together.”
“I’m still looking to find people that are going to make it work together,” she added. “We are switching people around and I would like to stop doing that.”
Ava Essex had two hits and four runs batted in for Farmington. Gracie Duley doubled and scored twice, while Laila Irvin scored three runs for the Farmers.
Nevaeh Howard pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits. She struck out six and walked two.
The Bombers were scheduled to host Illini West (8-10, 3-1 Prairieland) Thursday afternoon.
