The Humboldt Lady Cubs look to wrap up the regular season Thursday by hosting Osawatomie and extend their four-game win streak.
The Lady Cubs swept the Osage City Indians Monday 4-3 and 8-5 to pick up their seventh win in eight games with the postseason just around the corner.
“We just needed to throw strikes and rely on our defense,” Humboldt coach Brad Piley said. “Wins always matter when you’re relying on your record to see who you play in the postseason.”
In the opener, senior second baseman Skylar Hottenstein put Humboldt on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the second inning, then sophomore first baseman Kinley Hart tied it 2-2 after her hard grounder forced an infield error and subsequently plated sophomore outfielder Lakyn Meadows. Senior third baseman Shelby Shaughnessy tied it again in the fifth after scoring on a catcher’s error, then Meadows put the Lady Cubs ahead with an RBI blooper just over the reach of the second baseman. 
Thanks to a complete-game effort by sophomore pitcher Jo Ellison, who tallied three strikeouts while allowing nine hits and two walks, and strong play by Humboldt’s defense, the Lady Cubs held on for the 5-4 victory.
“I knew Shelby was struggling, so it was my job to come in and help her out,” said Ellison, who returned in the finale after Shaughnessy took ill. “In game two, I knew that was my usual game pitching so it was easy for me to come in,” said Ellison.
Though feeling puny, Shaughnessy remained in the lineup as an outfielder.
In game two, Humboldt seemed in trouble early after Osage City jumped out to a 5-0 lead.
Foreshadowing future events, Shaughnessy put Humboldt on the scoreboard with a three-run homer in the fifth-inning, bringing the score to 5-3.
A sixth-inning grand slam from junior shortstop Laney Hull allowed the Lady Cubs to pull out in front.
Sophomore third baseman Kamry De La Torre added an insurance run with an RBI single.
“We needed runs,” Hull said. “Luckily, I was able to pull the ball over and give us the lead.”
Shaughnessy picked up the win with a trio of strikeouts over three innings while allowing six walks and two earned runs.
Ellison picked up the save with a pair of strikeouts while coming on in relief in the fourth inning.
Hull had a team-leading four RBIs, followed by Shaughnessy with three.
While multiple players finished the game above .500 in the batter’s box, Hull said sophomore outfielder Carlie Weilert showed a few intangibles that impacted the game but may not necessarily stand out on a stat sheet.
