Janesville softball loses in rematch against Don Bosco | Waverly Newspapers

The Janesville softball team fell in their rematch against Don Bosco on Monday, June 30 by a score of 5-3. After going up one run early, the Wildcats gave up three runs in the bottom of the third, creating a deficit that they would not be able to battle back from.

The Wildcats certainly had no shortage of offense against the Dons. As a team, they finished with seven total hits including three extra base hits.

The Wildcats were also able to get that offense going quickly. In the top of the second, the Wildcats scored one run and subequently kept the Dons off the board in the bottom of the inning to take a 1-0 lead into the third inning.

It would be in that third inning in which the Dons would get a majority of their run production. The Dons scored three runs to take the lead away from the Wildcats, and never looked back from that point.

The Dons would add another run in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-1 before the Wildcats were finally able to get a run back in the form of a Lauren Meaney double. The Dons would answer that score with another run of their own to put their lead back to three runs heading into the sixth inning.

The Wildcats scored one final run in that sixth inning to make the score 5-3, but would not be able to get any closer. The Dons shut the door on the Wildcats in the top of the seventh by keeping them off the board to win the game.

Leading the Wildcats on the offensive end was Keke Smith, who went 2-for-4 at the plate with a single, a double, and an RBI. Dani Hughes went 1-for-3 at the plate, which included a leadoff double to set up Meaney’s RBI double. Gracie Bloes went 1-for-3 at the plate including one RBI, and Ally Eibey and Hayden Pugh both also finished with one single a piece.

Zoey Barnes pitched a solid game for the Wildcats on the mound. In six innings, Barnes struckout four batters while walking just one and also allowed just three earned runs.

In a close game, a few defensive mishaps made all the difference for the Wildcats. The team finished with three errors in the game, allowing the Dons to score an additional two unearned runs. Those two unearned runs would account for the Dons’ entire margin of victory in the game.

The Wildcats now turn their attention to the postseason, where they will play the winner of Dunkerton and West Central on July 9. That game will be played in Janesville.