The visiting Kenai Central softball team swept a doubleheader from Houston on Friday in Northern Lights Conference action.

The Kardinals improved to 4-6 in the league and 6-17 overall.

Kenai won the first game 6-3 in seven innings.

Lola McEwen went the distance, giving up three runs — two earned — on nine hits while walking one and striking out three.

The Kards jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first inning, but it was 3-2 after two and 4-3 after three. Kenai scored twice in the fourth and McEwen did the rest.

Avery Ellis was 3 for 4 with two runs for Kenai, while Kailey Stynsberg was 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBIs, and Maggie Grenier was 2 for 4.

Kenai won the second game 23-12 in five innings.

The Kardinals scored six runs in the first, seven in the second, three in the third and seven in the fourth, and the Hawks couldn’t keep up.

Ellis had a home run in going 2 for 3 with three runs and three RBIs. Also, Caitlyn Crapps was 3 for 5 with two runs and three RBIs, Seylor Tomrdle was 2 for 4 with two runs, Stynsberg was 3 for 4 with three runs, Grenier was 2 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs, Zoey Riley was 3 for 4 with three runs and four RBIs, Fox Coyle scored two runs, and Avia Miller was 2 for 2 with three runs and three RBIs.

Ellis gave up eight runs — seven earned — in three innings, while Kyana Griskevich gave up four runs in an inning, and McEwen pitched a scoreless inning.

Soldotna 19, Palmer 8

The visiting Stars topped the Moose in seven innings Friday in Northern Lights Conference play to move to 16-8 overall and 8-2 in the league.

Soldotna led 9-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but Palmer cut the gap to 9-8. SoHi then closed it out with five runs in the sixth and five runs in the seventh.

The top four in the Stars lineup had a huge game. Tatum Cooper was 3 for 6 with two runs, Alyssa McDonald was 3 for 3 with five runs and four RBIs, Isabelle Cruz was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a home run, and Bella Gares scored three runs.

Also, Kacey Cunningham was 2 for 4 with three runs, and Aliya Blough, Bailey Conner and Kadee Adams had two RBIs.

Cruz pitched all seven innings, giving up eight runs on six hits.

Kodiak sweeps Homer

The host Kodiak softball team swept Homer on Friday in Northern Lights Conference play.

The Mariners are 5-5 in the league and 12-18-2 overall.

Kodiak won the first game 29-0 in three innings, scoring 20 runs in the first and nine in the second. Homer did not get a hit. Keagan Niebuhr gave up 28 runs — 10 earned — in 1 2-3 innings, while Emily Owens gave up a run in getting an out.

The second game was 24-0 and also lasted three innings. Kodiak scored 18 in the first inning and six in the second inning.

Homer did not get a hit. Julie Guess gave up eight runs while recording an out. Niebuhr gave up 16 runs — eight earned — in 2 2-3 innings.