MT. IRON— The Timberwolves softball team dropped to 1-2 in the season’s early-going here on Tuesday, as the Rangers exploded in the sixth inning to rout Ely 11-3 in a game marked by high winds. The Rangers went up 5-0 early but the Wolves battled part-way back in the fourth inning, putting two runs on the board.
“We left the bases loaded when their left fielder made a catch that would have tied the game,” said Ely Head Coach Cory Lassi. “I felt like we made a lot of mental mistakes that we need to clear up. We gave them too many extra outs because of it.”
Zoe MacKenzie worked the mound for Ely, allowing just three earned runs on eight hits, while fanning five Rangers’ batters.
Clare Thomas notched two of the Wolves’ three hits in the contest, including a triple, scoring a run and an RBI. Peyton Huntington notched Ely’s only other hit.
Playing Monday at Silver Bay, the Mariners edged the Wolves 8-7 as an Ely rally fell short. “We battled back from being down 5-0 to take a 6-5 lead,” Lassi said. “I thought we played well.”
The Wolves outhit the Mariners 12-6, but a few close plays didn’t go Ely’s way and that made the difference.
MacKenzie had another solid outing on the mound, allowing five runs on six hits, while striking out seven. Maija Mattson was on fire at the plate as she went 4-4, including two doubles and a triple, along with an RBI and a run scored. Huntington drove in two runs on two hits and Thomas drove in one run on two hits. Ella Perish notched two hits and scored twice, while Makenzi Huntington notched a hit and scored twice.
After their opening road trip, the Wolves were scheduled to host Deer River in their home opener on Tuesday, April 23.