WEST BURLINGTON °®¶¹app” A few opposing teams used to consider a game against the West Burlington-Notre Dame high school softball team a win if they didn't lose by the mercy rule.
West Burlington-Notre Dame coach David Oleson said after the second game of an 11-8, 17-9 doubleheader loss to Fort Madison, "We took it to the seventh inning. At least we didn't get run-ruled."
The Fort Madison High School softball team got a couple shots of confidence Tuesday at Barb Carter Field.
"That's a strong program and they have been for a long time," Fort Madison coach Kyle Doherty said. "We need to use this to excel with the postseason ahead."
Brylie Lorence hit a home run in the seventh inning of both games as the Bloodhounds swept West Burlington-Notre Damein their last regular season games before Thursday's postseason game at Keokuk.
"We have a lot of confidence," Lorence said. "Things are clicking for us now. We are ready to go out there and play. We are ready for the postseason."
WB-ND also starts the postseason Thursday with a game at Mediapolis.
"We haven't been the same this year, even though we have the same pitching staff, since we lost five seniors," Oleson said. "This group just hasn't got to the point yet where they realize how much of a mental game it is."
The mental part of the game helped the Bloodhounds persevere in the opener.
Trailing 7-4 in the opener since the fourth inning, the Bloodhounds scored seven in the seventh inning behind Lorence's three-run home run.
"I was really pleased to see our bats come alive, especially being down for much of the game," Doherty said. "We did good grinding out situations."
Fort Madison's Ava Taylor went 3-for-4 in the game. Olivia Buckner had a double and a single. Ava Fuget and Kylie Lumino also had two hits each.
Emma Snaadt got the complete-game win, scattering nine hits, giving up seven earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts.
Madelyn Thomas, Madalynn Knapp and Lyndsey Kelley each hit a double for the Falcons. Knapp was 3-for-4.
Thomas threw the first six innings and into the seventh with eight hits, seven earned runs, nine walks and a strikeout.
Orayana Gonzalez came in and surrendered four hits, four earned runs, a walk and fanned two.
After the Falcons tied the second game at 3 in the bottom of the third inning, Fort Madison scored four runs in the fourth, four in the fifth, one in the sixth and five in the seventh inning.
Lorence again tagged a pitch for a ride over the fence, this one a grand slam.
The ball headed straight out over left-center fence on a rope.
"I told my team I was tired of running," Lorence said before she went to the batter's box. "It was right down the middle. Those are my favorite pitches. The line drive home runs are my favorite home runs."
Lorence also had two doubles in the game and Buckner had one. Lumino had two hits.
"It was good to see us be the team with all the hits and runs," Doherty said. "It was good timing with regionals ahead."
The Bloodhounds were the recipients of 12 bases on balls and four batters were hit.
Lucia Darnell pitched six innings and gave up five hits, five runs, three walks and fanned five.
Jordyn Marshall threw the seventh with three hits, four runs °®¶¹app” none earned °®¶¹app” no walks and a strikeout.
"We played some people that haven't seen the field a lot this season," Doherty said. "There was a lot of emotion after the game. They were excited to feel their contributions in two big wins."
Each team had five errors in the second game.
Gonzalez and Whitney Snowden hit doubles for the Falcons in the second game. Snowden also hit a single and drove in two runs. Thomas was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Gonzalez went five innings in the circle with seven hits, three of 11 runs earned, 10 walks and four strikeouts. Makayla Dueringer threw 1 1/3 innings with five hits, six earned runs, and two walks. Avery Lillie got the final two outs, one on a strikeout.
WB-ND is 15-20 and starts the Class 3A postseason Thursday at Mediapolis (14-8). The Bullettes have two wins against the Falcons this season.
Fort Madison is 12-14 with a Thursday game at Keokuk. The winner goes to Norwalk.