(Missouri Valley) Missouri Valley topped Exira/EHK/Audubon 3-1 in a softball game between two ranked teams. The Spartans are ranked third in Class 1A, and Missouri Valley is rated fourth in Class 2A.
Missouri Valley rode the hot bat of Paityn West to a victory over the Spartans, as West launched two home runs and accounted for all three of her team’s runs.
West got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning. After Emerson Anderson reached base, West connected on a pitch and sent a fly ball over the left-field fence for a two-run home run, giving Missouri Valley an early 2-0 advantage.
Exira/EHK/Audubon answered in the top of the third inning. With runners on base, Riley Miller lined a ground-ball single to right field, driving in Taryn Petersen and cutting the deficit to 2-1. Anna Larsen advanced to second on the play, keeping the rally alive.
Missouri Valley responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. West worked through a lengthy at-bat before crushing another fly ball, this time to center field, for her second home run of the game. The solo shot extended the lead to 3-1 and provided the final margin.
West finished with two home runs and three RBIs, supplying all of Missouri Valley’s offense. Miller delivered the Spartans lone run-scoring hit with her RBI single in the third inning.
