The North Union baseball and softball teams added to their win column on Tuesday evening with victories over conference rival Eagle Grove. This was the last home game for both squads before postseason play starts up in the coming days. Here are a few takeaways from each game.

PREP SOFTBALL

North Union 5, Eagle Grove 2

SWEA CITY, Iowa – The Warriors continue their winning ways with another victory over the Eagles this season.

North Union advances to 20-5 on the year, holding onto first place in the Top of Iowa-West Conference and posting the 10th best record in Class A.

Ulrich tosses another gem

It’s no surprise that sophomore Ainsley Ulrich has been one of the most effective pitchers in Class A this season. Tallying the fifth-most innings pitched in the class, Ulrich has backed up this production with 173 strikeouts and a 2.67 ERA.

Tuesday’s contest wasn’t her most impressive outing this year, but her efforts were enough to keep the Eagle Grove offense at bay.

Ulrich finished the game with a stat line of seven innings pitched, two earned runs, and six strikeouts. She has more than 20 complete games this season.

Offense comes through late

After scoring a pair of runs in the first inning, the Warriors’ offensive attack was limited until later in the game.

With the game tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth, North Union used its bats to bounce back, scoring three runs in the final three innings.

The junior tandem of shortstop Olivia Prince and center fielder Brylie Deim combined for four hits and three RBIs, fueling the late surge of runs.

PREP BASEBALL

North Union 7, Eagle Grove 1

BANCROFT, Iowa – North Union baseball ended the season on a high note with a victory over the Eagles.

Finishing off with an 8-13 record, the Warriors now prepare for a matchup against Graettinger-Terril High School in round one of the substate playoffs.

Run production throughout

After giving up a run in the first inning, North Union scored seven unanswered runs over the next six innings to fuel the victory.

Leading the charge for the Warriors was sophomore third baseman Max Merrill. Tallying a pair of doubles, Merrill drove in two runs for North Union while leading the team with four total bases.

Eight of nine batters recorded a hit in this offensive effort, combining for 10 hits total.

Hoye shines on the mound

Sophomore Cooper Hoye got the nod from head coach Steve Ryan on Tuesday evening, marking his first start of the season.

Making the most of the opportunity, Hoye tossed a complete seven innings, striking out one batter and allowing just one unearned run.

Hoye’s season ERA sits at 3.39 after 11 appearances on the rubber for the Warriors.