(Atlantic) A fast start and dominant pitching led ADM to an 8-0 shutout victory over Atlantic in high school softball action Tuesday night in Atlantic.
The Tigers exploded for three runs in the opening frame and never looked back, finishing the night with 11 hits while holding the Trojans to just four. Sophomore Makenna Pitlick got the start in the circle and delivered four scoreless innings, scattering four hits. Lauren Hagedorn came on in relief and was perfect through the final three innings, retiring all nine batters she faced to earn the save.
ADM’s bats were hot early. Elliott Von Roden singled to lead off the game, followed by a run-scoring hit from Hagedorn. Kinzie Maxwell capped the inning with a two-run homer to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead.
The Tigers added to their advantage in the second. Ellis Smith drew a walk, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Anniston Tollari, and scored on Von Roden’s groundout to short, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Atlantic pitcher Zoey Kirchhoff settled in after that, keeping ADM off the scoreboard through the next three innings. But the Tigers struck again in the sixth with a single run, then broke the game open in the seventh with three more. Maxwell, Madi James, and Kennedy Stanford all singled and came around to score, extending the lead to 8-0.
Hagedorn made quick work of the Trojans in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the side in order to seal the win.
Offensively, Maxwell led the Tigers with a two-run homer and two singles. Von Roden and James each added a pair of singles, while Stanford, Pitlick, Smith, and Hagedorn each chipped in with a hit.
For Atlantic, Makenna Schroeder, Peyton McLaren, McKenna Sonntag, and Claire Schroder each recorded one hit. The Trojans (22-12) return to action Wednesday night at home against Treynor. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
