Hounds drop two to Davenport North

FORT MADISON – The Lady Hounds again fell victim to a big inning in a doubleheader loss to Davenport North Wednesday night.
Fort Madison lost the opener 8-3 and then dropped the nightcap 12-2 in five innings.
The Bloodhounds spotted the Wildcats a 4-0 lead through the first four innings, but an eight-run top of the fifth stretched the lead to 12-0. Fort Madison would put up two in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t get the third run in to stave off the 10-run mercy rule.
Lauryn Helmick and Taylor Huffman each drove in a run for Fort Madison in the win. Huffman went 1-2 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Elizabeth Tanner had a hit and scored the other run for the Bloodhounds. Elle Ruble and Helmick also had doubles in the loss.
Emma Snaadt took the loss giving up 11 runs, nine earned on 4 1/3 innings pitched. She struck out one and walked one. Katelyn Sissel pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up one hit and a run, while striking out one.
In the opener, North scored in each of the first four innings while shutting out the Bloodhounds through four. The Wildcats held an 8-0 lead going into the fifth inning before Fort Madison got things going with a run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the bottom of the seventh in a short rally.
Ava Taylor singled to start the bottom of the fifth for Fort Madison and Olivia Buckner worked a walk. Helmick then shot a double to center plating Taylor and moving Buckner to 3rd with no outs. But the Wildcats’ Adalyn Bloomer-Gomez got the next three hitters on just four pitches to retire the side.
Elle Ruble connected on her second homerun of the year with two outs and one on in the bottom of the seventh inning. She hit a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield fence scoring Helmick who reached on a fielder’s choice.
Jordyn Marshall (2-3) took the loss allowing eight runs, three earned on eight hits, striking out one, and walking none.  Helmick was 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead Fort Madison at the plate. Helmick is hitting right at .400 on the year with 10 RBIs. Ruble leads the Hounds in hitting at .431. She was 1-4 in the nightcap with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Holmes, Brylie Lorence, and Taylor all had hits for the Lady Hounds (4-5 Southeast, 6-12).
They host Burlington tonight in a jv/varsity doubleheader at Baxter Sports Complex starting at 5:30 p.m.