Hauser rallies for comeback victory over Edinburgh

HOPE — Hauser found itself trailing after four innings in Thursday’s Mid-Hoosier Conference softball contest against Edinburgh.

The Jets then made a huge rally.

Hauser, ranked No. 9 in Class A, got the timely hits it needed to take the lead, and despite a last ditch effort by the Lancers in the seventh, held on for a 5-4 victory.

"We simply did not give up," Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. "I’ve talked to them about consistency. We started out the game with a couple errors, but it was about digging in when it counts. They see the innings counting down just like we do, and I would much rather play ball from the get-go like I know how they can, but better-late-than-never."

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Jets starting pitcher Hunter Crain was solid in her win in the circle. She allowed only one baserunner the first three innings and finished with three strikeouts and allowed six hits.

"I felt like I got stronger as I went," Crain said. "I feel like my warmup could have been better, and I feel like that carried over the first few innings. As we went on, I felt much better."

Crain ran into trouble in the fourth when Carly Cowan led off with a single for Edinburgh (3-3, 0-1). A walk put runners on first and second. Sidney Beier then hit a grounder, but a Hauser error on the play scored the first run.

Catey Streeval then reached on a dropped ball, but the Jets were able to get the force-out at third. Emma Wade then smacked a double to plate two runs and give the Lancers a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Jets responded back. Hannah Johnson led off the inning with a base hit. Mykenzie Ault then singled to put runners on the corners. After Ault stole second, Zoee Nading grounded deep to the shortstop and the throw at home wasn’t in time, giving Hauser its first run of the game.

Morgan Bottoms then walked to load the bases again for the Jets. A fielder’s choice got the next out for Edinburgh, and then Crain blasted a bases-clearing double in the gap between left and center to give them a 4-3 lead. On the next play, a Lancer error plated Crain for a 5-3 Hauser lead.

"I knew with the bases loaded and two out, I knew I needed to come through and be a leader," Crain said.

Another big factor that played a part in Thursday’s game was the weather. The wind picked up as the game went on, and it got Edinburgh off balance, especially in the fifth.

"We had that inning. Factors being what they are, this was one of those games where you put something high enough in the air, it was going to blow back in and be hard to field," Edinburgh coach Ben Taylor said. "That went in (Hauser’s) favor. At least three or four of the hits they had were like that, and they took advantage. Credit to them, they got enough across to beat us tonight."

The Lancers had one last push in the top of the seventh when Wade doubled and later scored on a single from Kaitlyn Bailey. But the Jets were able to recorded the final out to seal the win.

Crain also had a double and three RBIs at the plate, and Johnson went 2 for 3 for Hauser. Wade went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs for Edinburgh.

The teams will face off again in another MHC battle at 5 p.m. today at Edinburgh. Should Hauser be victorious, it would be in the driver’s seat for another conference title.