HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt Lady Cubs fell Wednesday to the Chanute Comets 11-3 in the first of their two contests against local rivals.
It’s a busy week on the diamond for the Lady Cubs, who face the Mustangs Friday and went up Thursday against Tri-Valley League foe Fredonia.
“If we just took care of business, and not give up so many errors, that game against Chanute would have been a lot closer,” Humboldt coach Brad Piley said Wednesday evening.
After going hitless in the opening frame, junior third baseman Hadley Galloway put the Lady Cubs on the scoreboard with an RBI single, driving in the first of her team-leading two RBIs while successful in 1 of 3 at-bats. In the fourth inning, Galloway cut Chanute’s lead to three runs with a sacrifice fly. Humboldt’s bats went silent until the seventh inning, when junior catcher Leah Carman’s grounder forced an error and, in the process, plated senior second baseman Skylar Hottenstein.
“We have to get the errors out and we didn’t hit the ball like we have been, and that didn’t help either, so we’re just going to have to play better,” Piley said.
The score was not enough to get Humboldt in contention. Junior starter Jo Ellison took the loss while tallying five strikeouts. She allowed 10 runs on nine hits and a walk while pitching a complete game. Junior outfielder Lakyn Meadows had a team-leading two hits. After hosting Tri-Valley League foe Fredonia Thursday, the Lady Cubs host Allen County rival Iola Friday. After splitting last season, and returning most of his roster this season, Piley likes his chances against the Mustangs Friday.
“Hopefully we got better and we can give them a couple of good games,” Piley said. “I think we have a chance if we play well, but we have to start playing well consistently. If we do that then we’ll be a lot better.”
First pitch for Friday’s opener is at 4:30 p.m. with a 6 p.m. first pitch tentatively scheduled for the finale.
