STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scooper Softball Team won both games of a doubleheader against the Spearfish Spartans on Tuesday night at Owens Field. Sturgis took game one, 8-6 and blew out Spearfish 24-3 in the nightcap.
Liv Johnson got the Spartans on the scoreboard quick, blasting the first pitch from Jayna Johnston over the left field fence to give Spearfish a 1-0 lead. Avreigh Long answered with a two-run dinger of her own in the bottom of the first and Sturgis led 2-1 after one inning.
The score was tied 3-3 in game one after the third inning, until the Scoopers exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-3 lead. The Spartans fought back, scoring one in the sixth and two more in the seventh to cut into the Scooper lead, until pitcher Abby Tweedy struck out the final two batters to seal the 8-6 victory.
Jayna Johnston earned the pitching win for Sturgis, striking out nine, walking three and giving up four runs over four innings. Tweedy came in on relief and struck out eight, walked three and gave up three hits. The Scoopers banged out 10 hits and were led by Avreigh Long, Tylee Bestgen and Tweedy with two hits each. Long, Bestgen and Kierra Killinger had two RBIs apiece.
Taylor Tennant took the loss in game one for Spearfish, striking out two and giving up five runs on six hits over four innings of work. Spearfish finished with seven hits and were led by Liv Johnson, who went 4-for-4 and had two RBIs.
Game two showcased an offensive outburst by the Scoopers, who scored 12 runs in the first three innings, then 12 runs in the top of the fifth to blow the game out of reach from Spearfish. The game featured home runs by Tylee Bestgen, Avreigh Long, Kierra Killinger and a grand slam by Emerson Gardner in the fifth to give Sturgis a convincing 24-3 win.
Abby Tweedy threw 67 pitches over four innings, striking out eight and giving up five hits to earn the victory. Brinlee Heikes came in for one inning of relief, holding Spearfish scoreless. The Scoopers finished with 20 hits and were led by Killinger, who went 5-for-5 with seven runs batted in. Bestgen went 5-for-5, Long went 3-for-3 and Gardner finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
Tennant also took the pitching loss in game two for Spearfish, who fell to 0-4 with the doubleheader loss. The Spartans had five hits in game two and were led by Liv Johnson, who had two hits and Caitlyn Lyon, who went 2-for-2 with one run scored.
The Scoopers improved to 4-1 on the season with the wins and are in action next on Friday as they travel to Harrisburg to play the Tigers at 2pm, then Tea Area at 4:30pm.
