Grinnell Pulls Away With Four-Run Fifth in 7-4 Win Over Knox
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | E | H | R | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KNO | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| GRI | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | X | 1 | 14 | 7 | 7 |
Grinnell broke open a tie game with a four-run fifth inning and defeated Knox 7-4 on Senior Day on April 29 at the Grinnell Softball Complex. The decisive swing came from Zoe Salazar, whose two-run homer to right-center turned a 3-3 game into a 5-3 Grinnell lead and sparked the inning that carried the Pioneers to the finish.
The Pioneers scored first in the opening inning when Kayla O'Malley drove a double to right-center to bring home Julia Marquez. Knox answered with an unearned run in the second, but Grinnell reclaimed the lead in the bottom half when Kala Bisterfeldt doubled down the left-field line to score Meghan Harcus. Grinnell added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly from Zoe Salazar, taking a 3-1 advantage into the middle innings despite strong winds, measured around 15 to 20 mph, that made fly balls difficult to judge throughout the afternoon.
Knox drew even in the top of the fifth. After putting two runners aboard, Knox got a two-run double from Kara Burwell to left-center that tied the score 3-3 and ended the day for starter Meghan Harcus. The Grinnell right-hander worked 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, two earned, while striking out six. Emma Skibbie entered in relief with the game tied and settled things quickly, covering the final 2.1 innings to earn the win.
Grinnell answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth with its most productive inning of the game. Zoe Salazar delivered the go-ahead two-run homer, then Emily Gonzalez followed with an RBI single to make it 6-3. Later in the inning, Julia Marquez added a sacrifice fly that scored Asianah Gostyla for a 7-3 cushion. Grinnell finished with 14 hits, with Kala Bisterfeldt collecting three hits and an RBI, Emily Gonzalez adding two hits and an RBI, and Zoe Salazar driving in three runs.
Knox threatened one last time in the seventh and got an RBI single from Cheyanne Merkel to trim the margin to 7-4, but Grinnell did not allow the rally to grow. Emma Skibbie finished off the final outs and struck out three in relief. Knox totaled nine hits, led by three from Cheyanne Merkel, while Kara Burwell supplied the two-run double in the fifth.
Before first pitch, Grinnell honored six seniors in a Senior Day ceremony, and the afternoon also included recognition for coach Lexy Determan following her 200th career victory. Grinnell matched that celebration with a complete offensive effort, turning steady pressure at the plate into a timely fifth-inning surge in front of 52 spectators.
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