Photo by Jake Przytarski Marshall third baseman Lexi Bednarek attempts to apply a tag during the Marshall softball team’s doubleheader against Pipestone Area on Thursday in Marshall.

MARSHALL — Fresh off a key victory over rival New Ulm this past Tuesday, the Marshall softball team returned to its home field on Thursday for a twinbill series against undefeated Pipestone Area (16-0), who entered the contest ranked No. 4 in Class AA.

After finding themselves on the wrong side of a lopsided result in Game 1 (14-2), the Tigers bounced back in Game 2 with a gritty effort that nearly culminated in an upset. Unfortunately, fielding errors and miscues late in the game proved costly for the home team as the Arrows took full advantage to win Game 2 9-4 and earn the sweep.

Marshall coach Jack Houseman came away pleased with the way the team opened the finale, but a lack of timely hits early on, combined with situation errors will be something they look to improve moving forward.

“Livy started off OK and got ahead of batters and got them to swing at some pitches, and so I think we got a good start there. We were just a little late on the bats and we need to do a better job in practice preparing the girls for situations out there,” said Houseman. “We had a little bit of a hotbox there or a rundown that we haven’t gotten to in practice and that’s my fault. I thought we played a good game up until those last couple innings there.”

Game 1: Pipestone 14, Marshall 2

Pipestone’s prowess at the plate was on full display in Game 1 of the doubleheader as the Arrows climbed ahead 6-0 in the top half of the first inning and never looked back en route to their 15th win of the season.

Marshall starting pitcher Ashleigh Steinbach–after giving up six runs in the top of the first–settled in nicely for the Tigers with only two runs given up through the next three innings to provide some hope for Marshall as the team tried to generate some offense. It was not to be, however, as the Tigers’ were held in check for most of the contest save for a two-run blast off the bat of Randi Wendorff in the bottom of the third inning to make it 8-2.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Arrows came alive once more in the top of the fifth with another six-run inning that brought the game to a close at 14-2.

After a difficult start to her outing, Houseman said he’s proud of the way Steinbach battled back after the first inning.

“Ashleigh did a good job fighting through that and staying out there and mixing up her pitches,” said Houseman. “We’re proud of her for batlting through that and again we just need our bats to get going and square that ball up and move forward.”

The biggest hurdle in Marshall’s pursuit of run support came from Pipestone pitcher Jess Reinert, who kept the Tigers off balance with her rise ball that Houseman said the team hasn’t seen much of this year.

“I think we still need to work on rise ballers, there was a pretty good rise baller there tonight so I think we need to practice that give them those situations in practice and let them see that,” said Houseman.

The Tigers were led at the plate by Taylor Ariasola (1-2), Steinbach (1-2), Schaeffer (1-3), Kayla Polejewski (1-2), Houseman (1-1), Regan Loft (1-1,BB), Randi Wendorff (1-3, 2RBI, HR), and Abby Wendorff (1-3).

Game 2: Pipestone Area 9, Marshall 4

Eager to put the lopsided result from Game 1 behind them, the Tigers got off to a much better start in Game 2 behind a strong pitching performance from starter Olivia Houseman.

Houseman opened the contest with a quick one-two-three inning after the Tigers stranded Steinbach who reached on a single in the top half of the first inning.

The Arrows drew first blood in their second time up as an error and back to back infield singles set up a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to give Pipestone a 2-0 lead. A wild pitch would score Pipestone’s third run of the inning to make it 3-0 after two.

In the top half of the third, Lexi Bednarek drove one out of the park with a solo home run to give the Tigers their first run of the game. Abby Wendorff kept the offense going with a two-run double that scored Randi Wendorff, who previously reached with a single, and Leah Schaeffer who reached with a walk, to knot the game up at three apiece.

The Arrows would add crucial runs in the fourth and fifth innings to make it 5-3 before the Tigers threatened to even the score once more in their fifth time up to the plate. Schaeffer opened the inning with a single and advanced to second after a walk to Abby Wendorff. A single by Brenna Springborg loaded the bases for Aubrey Bjella who drove in a run with a sac fly. With the bases still loaded, the Tigers were unable to add any additional run-support as a double play got the Arrows out of the inning.

Marshall’s chances dwindled in the bottom of the sixth when three costly errors helped score four runs to make it 9-4. The Tigers were unable to generate any more runs in their final time up.

The Tigers finished with eight hits overall in the loss with Abby Wendorff leading the way offensively after finishing 2-2 at the plate with a pair of RBI’s, a pair of doubles and a walk. Brenna Springborg went 2-3 in the finale, while Steinbach, Schaeffer and Bjella all contributed base hits and Bednarek added a solo home run.

Marshall (3-7) will be back in action today at home for a doubleheader matchup against Redwood Valley with the first game slated for 4 p.m.