Galva capitalized on West Prairie/Southeastern miscues in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 deadlock and hung on for a 4-2 non-conference victory over the Cyclones on Senior Day in Colchester.
WP/SE freshman starter Arianna Soule and Galva’s Jovie Weber hooked up in a pitcher’s duel for the first seven innings as both sides struggled to score.
The Wildcats threatened in the top of the first when Alison Bussell and Danielle Wigant hit back-to-back one-out singles. But Soule retired Kaylen Gale on an infield popup and Alyssa Hudson on a ground ball to Brylee Elliott at second to retire the side.
Galva took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the second after Weber and Sage Kaiser reached on consecutive infield errors to put runners on first and second with nobody out.
The Wildcats then pulled off a double- steal and Weber came around to score after a throw to second was too late to get Kaiser.
Weber continued to shut down the Cyclones’ offense and allowed only a single to Soule in the second and a Kenadie Webster double in the fourth.
Meanwhile, Soule kept the visitors in check by retiring eight straight batters before allowing a lead-off walk in the top of the fifth.
WP/SE finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when Tegan Rigg reached on a one-out single and Ella Tippey belted a double to center to drive in Rigg and make it 1-1.
Tippey advanced to third but Weber retired Adriana Starks and Soule to get out of the inning.
The Wildcats threatened in the seventh after loading the bases with two outs, but Soule retired Kaylen Gale on a ground ball to first to escape any damage.
But Weber struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
Starting with a runner on second, Soule plunked Kaiser with a pitch to put two runners on for Weber, who lined a two-run double to give Galva a 3-1 lead.
Arabella Porsche drove in Weber with an RBI-single to put the Wildcats up 4-1.
The Cyclones got one run back in the bottom of the eighth when Elliott scored from second on an error by Plummer to get within 4-2. But Tippey was retired on a diving grab by Kaylyn Gale in center to end the game.
Galva improved to 4-10 overall as Weber earned the victory after going the distance. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out 15 and walking one.
Soule was the hard-luck losing pitcher after going eight innings and giving up four runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out three and walking none.
Tippey went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Cyclones who committed nine errors and fell to 2-15 for the season.
“I feel bad,” said WP/SE head coach Cyle Rigg. “I was telling the seniors that I felt bad because it was their senior day. Maybe the emotions were a little high today and I get that. I don’t feel like we were ready to play.”
“Give their pitcher credit. She was mixing it up high and low,” Rigg continued. “We had a lot of girls playing out of position because we’re not completely healthy right now but you can’t make that excuse.”
Rigg also spoke highly of Soule’s performance in the circle.
“Seven hits and nobody walked...I’ll take that any day of the week,” said Rigg. “And we only gave up four runs total with all of the mistakes we made. I would take that in a heartbeat for every game.”
