Two big surges led to two wins.
There were two more chances, as well.
Independence scored two runs in the top of the sixth in one loss and one in the top of the seventh of another during a hot two-day, four-game West Delaware Invitational in Manchester.
The Mustangs (6-18) fell to Dubuque Wahlert, 8-6, after a time limit ended the game after six innings. In that game, there were two on with two out before a game-ending flyout.
Alex Farmer’s squad also fell, 3-1 to Edgewood-Colesburg. The Mustangs broke up a no-hitter in the top of the seventh and pulled within two runs.
Bases were loaded with two outs, but a groundout ended the contest.
Independence beat MFL MarMac, 15-1 in six innings and Monticello, 9-4, in five innings ended by a time limit.
Bella Louvar struck out 13 against MFL in a complete-game win and Jordan Iversen struck out six against Monticello in a complete game win.
Liberty Brown pitched 10 2/3 innings, with five strikeouts, three walks and two earned runs across the losses.
Louvar went 4 for 14 with six runs scored, two walks and two steals. Avery Wheelock went 2 for 3 with four runs scored and two steals and Isla Reed went 2 for 6 with three RBI and two runs.
Reagan Reeg walked three times and scored three runs and Iversen drove in four and scored three times.
Jordin Derr (three) and Wheelock (two) combined for five of the nine hit-by-pitches drawn by the Mustangs.
East Buchanan falls twice in Central City
The Buccaneers lost both Tri-Rivers West games Thursday in Central City, falling 2-1 and 9-3. East Buchanan (5-14, 3-13) had Ava Shannon allow just one earned run across six innings of the opener but couldn’t get another run after the Wildcats scored one in the fifth to tie and one in the sixth to take the lead.
Shannon threw all 13 innings, allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs and striking out seven. She also drove in the lone Game 1 run.
Jaden Connolly went 3 for 6 with two RBI, a double and a run scored and Sammi Sham also went 3 for 6 with a run scored.
Baseball
Independence baseball swept by CCA
The Mustangs dropped a pair of WaMaC cross-division games to Clear Creek-Amana on Thursday. The Clippers won Game 1, 14-9, in nine innings and Game 2, 7-5.
CCA (12-10) score five in the top of the ninth in the opener and three in the top of the seventh in the nightcap for the sweep.
Independence (10-13) led 6-2 after two innings of the opener and fell behind but scored two in the fifth and one in the seventh to tie it 9-all. The Mustangs led 5-4 after the bottom of the sixth in Game 2 but couldn’t hold on.
Samuel Hamilton homered and drove in four across the doubleheader while Andrew Rottinghaus went 4 for 6 with two doubles, two walks, two runs batted in, and two runs scored.
Bryce Christian went 4 for 8 with three steals, two RBI and two runs. Jacob Mulford went 4 for 7 and Christopher Meyer was 3 for 9 with three RBI, three runs and two steals.
Benton Enright, Hamilton, Blayne Mergen, Mulford and Rottinghaus all spent at least two innings on the mound.
East Buchanan 8, Midland 1
The Buccaneers scored at least one run from the second through fifth innings Thursday in Wyoming during the Tri-Rivers West conference victory.
East Buchanan batted .385 (10 for 26) and had 10 others reach via walk (five), error (three) and hit-by-pitch (two). It stole five bases, with Brady Hogan snagging three.
Brady Van Scoyoc struck out 11, scattering five hits and hitting two batters. He went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Tristan Cornell went 2 for 3 while Will Hansen, Hogan, Camden Long and Kyle Peck each drove in a run.
East Buchanan’s game at Gladbrook-Reinbeck on Friday was cancelled.