Battling low numbers and injuries all season, the Bushnell- Prairie City High School softball squad returned to action last week.
On Thursday, the Spartans headed to Beardstown where they were clawed by the host Tigers 15-0 in four innings.
Beardstown seized command early, scoring 12 runs in its first at-bat. The Tigers added a single tally in the second and two more in the third, finishing the contest with 12 hits.
Natalie Willey pitched 2.2 innings for B-PC, allowing 15 runs, five earned, on 12 hits, also walking four batters.
Jayden Johnson recorded the final out in the third. Kylynn Maltby homered twice, knocking in five runs for Beardstown (17-3). Khloe Kearns had three hits, including a double and a home run.
Ava Quigley, Hallie Lawson, Autumn Bowman and Ava Knous all added two runs batted in apiece.
Kearns pitched a four-inning perfect game, striking out 11 of the 12 batters she faced. She threw 46 pitches, 35 for strikes.
The following day, the Spartans returned to the home field to host Farmington in a Prairieland Conference contest.
The visiting Farmers scored in all four innings they batted on the way to a 19-1 victory in four innings.
Farmington improved to 8-12 overall, 4-2 in Prairieland play.
B-PC dropped to 0-7 overall, 0-3 in league play. The Farmers scored six runs in the first before adding four more in the second in building a 10-0 lead.
The Spartans scored their first run of the season in the bottom of the second.
Jayden Johnson opened the inning by reaching on an error by Farmington shortstop Ava Essex.
Josie Farwell followed with B-PC’s first hit of the season, a double to right that advanced Johnson to third.
Johnson scored when Jamea Perry grounded out to second.
The Farmers tallied three runs in the third and six more in the fourth on the way to recording the win.
Johnson pitched three innings, allowing 13 runs, nine earned, on 11 hits. She struck out two and walked four.
Willey pitched one inning, allowing six earned runs on six hits. She struck out one and walked two.
Cayne Lambin had four hits, including a double, with five runs batted in for the Farmers. Kennedy Koenig added three hits, including a double, with four RBIs and three runs scored.
Gracie Duley also knocked in four runs, while Joelle Herbst, Essex and Laila Irvin chipped in two hits apiece for the victors.
Neveah Howard pitched three innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit, striking out four.
Ella Essex pitched one inning to close out the contest for the Farmers.
The Spartans are slated to return to action Tuesday, heading to Mendon Unity (1-12).
On Wednesday, the Spartans are scheduled to host Peoria Heights before hosting Stark County (16-8) on May 14.
