SQUEEZE PLAY — Martin County West shortstop Emily Anderson catches an infield popup during Game 2 of a softball twinbill on Saturday at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome. Adrian/Ellsworth runner Jazlyn VanderPoel (right) and Maverick infielder Emily Dunlop watch the play. (Photo by Greg Abel)

WELCOME — Martin County West needed six innings to finally break out of its case of the Saturday morning doldrums at Fox Lake Sports Complex.

The hometown Mavericks utilized the long ball — two home runs and two doubles — to erupt for five seventh-inning runs to douse the Adrian/Ellsworth Dragons, 7-6, in Game 1 of their non-league softball doubleheader.

The two teams flip-flopped on the non-operating scoreboard for Game 2, and the Mavericks continued their offensive stampede with three runs in the first frame and four more in the second en route to a 13-1, five-inning triumph to complete the two-game sweep.

“After our bats got going in the bottom of the seventh in the first game, it (offensive rhythm) seemed to carry over into the second game,” said MCW head coach Darrell Ziegler, whose batting order generated 20 runs on 24 hits — including nine for extra bases — during the home twinbill.

Down 6-2 in the opener, Ivy Kokoruda and Emily Dunlop flexed their muscles in belting back-to-back HRs to trigger the Mavericks’ late comeback. Kokoruda drilled a leadoff inside-the-park round-tripper into the left-field corner, while Dunlop drove an offering from Dragons hurler Shawna Rogers over the left-field fence.

Hailee Schuett, who went 3-for-8 with four RBIs and five runs scored during the two-game span, kept MCW’s rally alive with a single up the middle before getting replaced on base via Emily Anderson’s fielder’s choice.

Paige Anderson, who went 4-for-8 with a day’s-best five RBIs on the twinbill, reached when her hard-hit grounder was mishandled. Rogers got a flyout to inch closer to the Dragons’ victory, but Kelly Bettin had other plans. Kelly Bettin smacked a game-tying two-run double to left to plate the Andersons for a score of 6-all.

Miah Olson, who was pinch-running for Bettin, scampered home with the decisive run when Taylor Elliott hammered her third hit of Game 1 for the game-winning RBI double to left. Elliott also doubled in the second inning.

Dunlop went 3-for-4 with the HR and a double in the opener, while Emily Anderson collected two hits for MCW.

Kelly Bettin allowed two hits in 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief to net the win for the Mavericks. Bettin struck out three and walked two.

Leah Kruse went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored to top the Dragons’ 10-hit effort, while twin sister Karly Kruse went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored.

“In addition to our offense continuing to stay hot in the second game, I thought we played much better defense to complete the sweep,” said Ziegler, whose Mavericks did not commit an error in Game 2. “Lina (Arnold) threw a high percentage of strikes and got ahead in the count, and that always keep the defense involved.”

Arnold walked, Kokoruda doubled and Schuett later blasted a two-run double during the top of the first inning to serve as MCW’s offensive catalysts in the second contest. One out later, Paige Anderson singled home Schuett for a quick 3-0 lead.

With the bases loaded via two walks and a hit batter with two out, Schuett delivered her second two-run hit of Game 2. Emily Anderson and Paige Anderson then cranked back-to-back RBI singles to widen MCW’s margin to 7-0.

Olson smacked an RBI single and Arnold slugged a run-scoring double to highlight the Mavericks’ two-run third at-bat, Paige Anderson and Riley Bettin contributed RBI singles in the fourth before Paige Anderson capped her outstanding day with a two-run single in the fifth.

Arnold allowed one run on five hits, struck out two and walked four in five innings to earn the victory

Martin County West (3-3) is scheduled to play host to Cleveland at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

(Game 1)

A/E 130 200 0 — 6 10 4

M 200 000 5 — 7 12 3

Winning run scored with two out in the seventh inning.

Shawna Rogers (LP) and Claire Hoffman. Emily Anderson, Kelly Bettin (4, WP) and Ivy Kokoruda.

LOB–Adrian/Ellsworth 10; MCW 9. 2B–Taylor Elliott (MCW) 2, Emily Dunlop (MCW), Kelly Bettin (MCW), Karly Kruse (A/E). HR–Ivy Kokoruda (MCW), Emily Dunlop (MCW).

(Game 2)

M 342 22 — 13 12 0

A/E 000 10 — 1 5 4

Lina Arnold (WP) and Ivy Kokoruda. Leah Kruse (LP) and Claire Hoffman.

LOB–A/E 7; MCW 6. 2B–Lina Arnold (MCW), Ivy Kokoruda (MCW), Hailee Schuett (MCW), Shawna Rogers (A/E).