The Iola Mustangs are one win away from evening their record at 8-8 after edging the Parsons Vikings 11-10 Tuesday night at Alumni Park.
Iola freshman second baseman Jayna Ivy snatched the victory from the Vikings literally and metaphorically after catching a line-drive and then tossing it to freshman first baseman Breilghlynn Rutherford for a game-ending double play.
Trailing by a run after going scoreless in the opening frame, Iola got on the scoreboard in the second inning off a two-RBI single by freshman outfielder Camryn Wille. In the third, freshman outfielder Kailyn Rodriguez tied the game 3-3 with an RBI grounder, the first of her team-leading three RBIs. Moments later, Iola took the lead after sophomore outfielder Shaylee Karns reached home on a wild pitch.
Freshman Jayna Ivy hauls in a hit last Thursday against Humboldt.
Iola held on to its lead with four unanswered runs in the fourth inning, then a run in the sixth.
Freshman pitcher Haidyn Desmarteau got Iola rolling with an RBI single, then a sacrifice fly by sophomore third baseman Addie Wacker drove in Desmarteau. In the same inning, junior outfielder Brooklyn Holloway scored on a passed ball and drove in a run in the fifth inning with an RBI double.
A five-run fifth inning put Parsons back in contention, but Iola kept the Vikings at a distance with a pair of runs off Rodriguez and Wille.
Desmarteau picked up the win with six strikeouts over seven innings while allowing 10 runs on six hits and 10 walks. Rodriguez was also Iola’s leader in hits while successful in 3 of 4 at-bats. Rutherford had two hits. Desmarteau, Wacker, Holloway and Karns had an RBI each.
With the win, the Mustangs are 7-8 overall and look to even their record to 8-8 while on the road Thursday against Girard. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m.
