NEODESHA — Humboldt High’s Lady Cubs came out on the short end of a pair of heartbreakers Tuesday.
Host Neodesha scored the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk for a true “walk off,” 10-9 victory.
The Bluestreaks then scored six runs over the third and fourth innings, and fended off Humboldt’s comeback down the stretch to win, 6-4.
The setbacks came in Humboldt’s season-opening doubleheader.
“We had a lot of mistakes on defense, and our batting is going to get better,” Humboldt head coach Brad Piley said.
The opener featured a number of ebbs and flows.
Humboldt broke open a 1-1 tie with a six-run third before Neodesha closed the gap to 7-3 with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
Single runs by Humboldt in the fourth and sixth innings bumped the lead to 9-3.
That’s where things went sour. Neodesha plated six in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, leading to the heartbreaking result for the Lady Cub faithful.
Brooklyn Ellis paced the offense with a single and two doubles, with one RBI. She also pitched a complete game, surrendering eight hits and four walks in eight innings, with 13 strikeouts.
Karley Wools added a single, a double and a triple with a stolen base and RBI. Kirstyn Murrow singled twice with two stolen bases. Emily Ross and Emma Carson each had a double and RBI. Morgan Sterling chipped in with a stolen base.
HUMBOLDT pushed ahead, 2-0, in the second inning of the nightcap, but the advantage was short-lived. Neodesha knotted the score with a pair of runs in the third, then took the lead for good with a four-run fourth.
Humboldt closed the deficit to 6-4 with two runs in the top of the fifth, but drew no closer.
Ellis pitched six innings, giving up eight hits and a walk with a strikeout.
Isabelle Murrow had a double and stolen base. Kirstyn Murrow had a single and stolen base. Emily Ross singled and drove in two. Kirsten Kobold had a single and RBI. Kady Hart and Haviland both had singles. Wools added a stolen base.
Humboldt is back in action today with its home-opener against Erie.
