Bison softball team drops state opener

HASTINGS -- The McCook High School softball team dropped its first-round game at the Nebraska Class B state tournament Thursday morning.

The No. 3 seeded Bison (25-5) lost 3-1 to the No. 6 seeded Blair Bears (25-6). It was just the third time this season the Bison had allowed an opponent to score more than two runs.

Blair scored single tallies in the top of third, sixth and seventh innings. The Bears were aided by three McCook errors and all the runs were unearned.

McCook senior Marissa Wallace belted a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to keep the Bison from being shut out.

McCook stranded several baserunners. The Bison had runners at second and third base in the first inning but could not score.

Senior Kirstie Hiatt was the starting pitcher for the Bison. She worked the first four innings and allowed two hits. She was replaced by senior Marissa Wallace in the fifth inning.

Sophomore Mackenzie Welchert was the starting and winning pitcher for the Blair Bears. She allowed four hits and struck out three.

Blair's Rachel Plessing, who entered the game with a .476 batting average, went 3-for-4. Blair had eight hits.

McCook will play Hastings in a 12:30 p.m. consolation round against the Hastings Tigers (19-9).

Hastings lost to Beatrice 10-0 in a four-inning run-rule game in a first-round game.

Blair takes on Beatrice (17-5) in a 12:30 p.m. quarterfinal game today.

Elkhorn defeated Gretna 10-1 in another first-round game. The Ralston-Seward score was not available at press time.