Photo by Sam Thiel Marshall’s Brenna Springborg makes a running catch during their doubleheader against Worthington on Tuesday. Marshall fell to Worthington 3-1 in game one and 9-1 in game two.

MARSHALL — Entering its final week of the regular season, the Marshall softball team looked to keep its recent momentum going as winners of its last six games. Facing Worthington in its final home games of the regular season, Marshall went toe-to-toe with the Trojans but Worthington was able to earn a doubleheader sweep with 3-1 and 9-1 victories on Tuesday.

Marshall coach Jack Houseman said he was pleased with how his team continued to battle but added they just made some costly mistakes late.

“The girls played well; we like those tight games where you have to make the plays and you have to do your job at the plate and work the zone, so those were good games up until that little hiccup in the final couple of innings in game two when we had some errors,” coach Houseman said. “Other than that it should a good learning experience when facing that pitcher and moving forward to our last two games against Luverne.”

Worthington 3,

Marshall 1 (Game 1)

Worthington got out to a quick start in the opener, leading off the game with a triple before later using an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. Marshall’s offense, meanwhile, had a slow start, with MHS only recording two hits in the first three innings.

Worthington picked up where it left off on offense in the fourth, getting a leadoff single and a sacrifice before scoring on a fielder’s choice to make it 2-0. The Trojans then added to their advantage in the next inning with a solo home run to push it to 3-0, but Marshall wouldn’t go down without a fight.

In the bottom half of the sixth, Lexie Bednarek got aboard on a one-out single before Ashleigh Steinbach connected on a single to get a pair of baserunners on for Marshall. Randi Wendorff then stepped up and smacked an RBI single to make it 3-1 and MHS later had two baserunners in scoring position, but Worthington was able to escape the jam and ultimately earn the victory.

Bednarek led Marshall with two hits while Brenna Springborg, Abby Wendorff, Steinbach, Randi Wendorff and Olivia Houseman each had a hit, with Randi Wendorff recording the lone RBI.

Houseman took the loss in the circle, going seven innings while allowing three runs on eight hits and struck out seven.

Worthington 9,

Marshall 1 (Game 2)

The second game saw a similar start, as Worthington jumped out to an early advantage, this time scoring a run in each of the first three innings to go up 3-0. Marshall was held without a hit in its first three trips to the plate, but got on the board in the top of the fourth when Springborg connected on a leadoff double before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by Steinbach.

Worthington had a quick response, however, getting a pair of baserunners aboard in the bottom of the frame before an RBI single made it 4-1. The Trojans then capitalized on a couple of Marshall errors to plate three more runs to extend their lead to 7-1 after four.

After a scoreless fifth, Worthington put together a trio of hits to plate a run in the sixth before an RBI single ultimately brought it to the 9-1 final.

Springborg recorded the lone hit for Marshall.

Morgan Bjella took the loss in the circle, going seven innings while allowing nine runs on 15 hits and struck out six.

Up next

Marshall (9-9) will wrap up the regular season on Thursday at Luverne with a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Going into the final pair of games of the regular season, coach Houseman said they need to clean up some things on defense as well as at the plate.

“We just need to play our defense and get some things worked out on defense and then get a little hot with the bats and we’ll be ready to go for the last part of the regular season and sections,” coach Houseman said.

Worthington 3, Marshall 1 (Game 1)

Worthington 100 110 0 – 3 8 0

Marshall 000 001 0 – 1 7 2

Hitting: Marshall (Bednarek 2H; Springborg, A. Wendorff, Steinbach, Houseman 1H; R. Wendorff 1H, RBI).

Pitching (IP-R-H-BB-SO): Marshall (Houseman 7-3-8-0-7).

Worthington 9, Marshall 1 (Game 2)

Marshall 000 100 0 – 1 1 4

Worthington 111 402 x – 9 15 2

Hitting: Marshall (Springborg 1H).

Pitching (IP-R-H-BB-SO): Marshall (M. Bjella 7-9-15-4-6).