(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
With the regular season nearing its end, the top two ranked softball teams took to the field for what could be a state championship preview.
But if that’s the case, it’s hard not to consider No. 1 Eaton a heavy favorite heading into next week’s state softball tournament.
Eaton jumped out to a quick lead and never relented en route to a 17-6 win over the defending Class 3A state champion (and No.2-ranked) Bulldogs.
Each side scored multiple runs in the first inning as they went into the top of the second with Eaton holding a 3-2 lead. But then the bats heated up and five Eaton players crossed home plate over the course of the third inning to make it an 8-2 game. Eaton scored four more in the top of the fourth and University finally found a little offensive momentum in the bottom half of the inning, matching Eaton’s four runs.
But Eaton refused to take the foot off the gas and scored a combined seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to end the game after six.
Jennifer Jarnagin led the Eaton offense going 4-for-5 on the day, blasting a home run and driving in three total runs. She also crossed home plate four times.
Olivia Comer also played a big role as she went 2-for-3 and drove in a game-high four runs.
Freshman Sadie Ross was steady in the pitcher’s circle as she three all six innings, striking out five hitters and allowing four earned runs. With the win she improves to 9-1 on the year. She also held the Bulldogs to nine hits through the course of the game.
Just two players in University’s lineup had multiple hits in the contest. Andi Padilla and Kendree Kern each hit safely twice, but neither drove a run in and Kern managed to score once. Delaney Wieneke’s lone hit of the game was a solo home run.
Kaden Wyatt and Lexi Sanchez shared the team lead with two RBI’s on the day.
Both teams close out regular season play on Saturday and await their fates when the 3A state bracket is released early next week.