Beloit, OH -- The bats were alive on today, but West Branch came up just short in a 12-10 battle against Howland, racking up 13 hits in a strong offensive showing.
Elly Biskup led the charge with a huge day at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 and driving in four runs to pace the Warriors. Howland jumped out early with two runs in the first and added to the lead in the second to take control, but West Branch didn't back down and continued to chip away.
The Warriors battled their way back in the fifth, cutting the deficit to 8-6 as Biskup delivered a two-run single, a dropped third strike brought another run home, and Carly Loper added a sacrifice fly to keep the momentum rolling.
After Howland answered with a big sixth inning, West Branch continued to fight, showing resilience at the plate all game long. Zoe Metzger, Sara Schmidt, Zoey Carreon, and Camryn Wike all turned in multi-hit performances, while Ellie Tucker showed patience with two walks as the Warriors totaled five free passes on the day.
West Branch stayed aggressive on the bases as well, swiping eight bags, with Biskup and Jaimi Mossgrove each collecting multiple steals. In the circle, Mossgrove provided solid relief, tossing four innings while allowing no earned runs and keeping the Warriors within striking distance.
What's Next: West Branch returns to action Tuesday, hitting the road for a 5 p.m. matchup at Alliance.
