Photo by Sam Thiel Marshall’s Olivia Houseman fires a pitch during game one of their doubleheader against Willmar on Tuesday. Marshall defeated Willmar 8-1 in game one and 12-0 in five innings in game two.

MARSHALL — Despite a mix of cooling temperatures and a light rain, the Marshall softball team’s offense remained red-hot all afternoon during its doubleheader against Willmar on Tuesday, as MHS cruised to 8-1 and 12-0 (5 innings) victories.

Game 1

Marshall 8, Willmar 1

Marshall got out to a strong start in the opener, as Brenna Springborg drew a leadoff walk and Lexie Bednarek got hit by a pitch before Leah Schaefer reached on an infield single to plate a run and make it 1-0. After a scoreless second inning, Marshall kept the momentum going in the bottom of the third when Bednarek got hit by a pitch again and Randi Wendorff drew a walk before Abby Wendorff connected on a two-run double. Lauren Wherry then stepped up and smacked an RBI single on the ensuing at-bat to push Marshall’s lead to 4-0.

MHS wasn’t done there, though, with Olivia Houseman and Springborg getting aboard in the fourth before Ashleigh Steinbach lined an RBI single to make it 5-0. After a Kayla Polejewski walk loaded the bases, Schaefer brought in a run on a fielder’s choice before Abby Wendorff connected on an RBI single to give MHS a 7-0 advantage after four.

Willmar wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, and used an error and an RBI single to get on the board in the top of the fifth, but Marshall was quick to respond and got a sacrifice fly from Bednarek to bring it to the 8-1 final.

Abby Wendorff led Marshall with two hits and three RBI while Houseman added two hits, Schaefer had a hit and two RBI and Steinbach and Wherry each had a hit and an RBI.

Houseman earned the victory in the circle, going seven innings while allowing one run on two hits and struck out eight.

Game 2

Marshall 12, Willmar 0

(5 innings)

Looking to carry over its solid play from the first game, Marshall quickly jumped out to an early lead in the first, scoring three runs. MHS continued to maintain its efficiency at the plate in the next inning, as Morgan Bjella reached on an error and Springborg connected on an infield single before Steinbach got an RBI single to make it 4-0. Randi and Abby Wendorff then stepped up and plated three more runs on back-to-back Willmar errors to push MHS’ advantage to 7-0.

Both sides couldn’t score in the third, but Marshall quickly got back on the board in the fourth, as Randi Wendorff reached on another error before Schaefer connected on an RBI single. Regan Loft then brought in a run on a sacrifice fly before Morgan Bjella and Springborg connected on back-to-back RBI singles to extend Marshall’s lead to 11-0. Marshall wasn’t done there, though, as Bednarek led off the fifth with a solo home run to seal the 12-0 victory.

Springborg led Marshall with three hits and an RBI while Abby Wendorff added two RBI, Loft and Randi Wendorff each had an RBI and Steinbach, Bednarek, Schaefer, Morgan Bjella and Polejewski each had a hit and combined for four RBI.

Morgan Bjella earned the victory in the circle, her first varsity win, going five innings while allowing six hits and struck out nine.

Up next

Marshall (6-7) will face Fairmont on the road on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in a doubleheader.