Photo by Jake Olson: North Union pitcher Ainsley Ulrich fires a strike during Tuesday night's contest against West Hancock in Swea City.

SWEA CITY – Kim Price knew her star pitcher was close to reaching a major milestone. The North Union softball head coach tallied Ainsley Ulrich’s career strikeout totals following last weekend’s contests against Sioux Central and Newell-Fonda, noticing she was in reach of passing the elusive mark of 500.

Kim Price made the necessary accommodations in case the accomplishment was achieved during North Union’s first of two home games this week.

“Sunday night, I created the poster to have it sent in and printed,” Kim Price said. “One of the parents picked it up this morning, because after she had nine last night [against Lake Mills], I knew she only needed 10, and she definitely could have gotten 10 tonight.”

Ulrich not only met this during Tuesday’s matchup against West Hancock. She exceeded it. The junior tallied a total of 12 strikeouts over the five-inning game, allowing just three hits and guiding the Warriors to an 8-0 victory in Swea City. North Union moves back to five games above .500 with a record of 8-3.

“I kind of expected it would be either today or tomorrow, which is nice because we were going to be at home,” Kim Price said. “It’s just exciting for her and the team.”

Spectators noticed a fast start by Ulrich at the top of the first. Her ability to attack the zone sent a signal to Kim Price and the rest of the Warrior dugout. A signal that showed it was one of those days. Ulrich walked off the circle after striking out the first three batters in just a handful of pitches. She was in a rhythm early and often.

“She was just completely locked in. I could just tell she was ready to go and every pitch was on” Kim Price said. “There are just those days when you can just see it from her. In the first inning, coming out, she often gets three strikeouts right away. In this first inning, it was just strike, strike, strike.”

Much like Ulrich’s early pitching performance, the Warrior batting order was able to start with immediate flair at the plate. Three-hole hitter Brylie Deim put the first dent in the scoreboard after shooting a home run over the left field fence that rolled in Ulrich and Olivia Price from second and third base.

Maisey Bierstedt and Aslynn Sobolik traded places on the basepaths after stringing together consecutive doubles two batters later. Kyla Irmiter put the finishing touches on the frame with her RBI single driving in Sobolik from her spot at third. Five runs touched the plate in the blink of an eye.

The Warriors added their final three scores of the night in the home half of the second. Olivia Price’s second hit of the game was immediately followed by a walk from Deim a couple pitches later. Bierstedt capped things off with North Union’s second and final long-ball, this time going over the right side fence to erupt the home crowd.

Seven of the team’s eight total hits came in the first two frames. Kim Price thought the controlled attack in the batter’s box spoke to the dynamic results in the field. It was a honed aggression from everyone in the lineup.

“In the first couple of innings, I felt like we were disciplined at the plate,” Kim Price said. “We weren’t just swinging at junk and kinda waited for the pitch we were going to be able to drive. It was a good job of hitting the ball hard and solid.”

Ulrich’s increased run support guided her the rest of the way. She reached the milestone with fourth-inning punchouts of Embree Witte and Emma Anderson, before closing out the ensuing frame with two additional strikeouts that sealed the North Union victory.

The Warriors finish the mini home stretch with a 6:00 p.m. contest against Eagle Grove on Wednesday. They then take on Algona and Garner Hayfield Ventura before competing in the Spirit Lake Softball Tournament this Saturday.