The Homer softball squad romped its way to a 17-4 Northern Lights Conference victory over Soldotna Tuesday in Homer.
The Mariners bouyed their season record to 6-3 overall in 2015, and will face perennial powerhouse Kodiak in a doubleheader starting 4 p.m. Friday. Soldotna dropped to 1-9 overall in a season of struggles.
In a game that went four innings, Homer knocked out 10 hits to Soldotna’s seven, while each team recorded an error.
Homer started fast with four runs in the first inning, then added six more in the third and seven in the fourth.
Maggie LaRue opened up the scoring by stealing home in the first inning, and was followed shortly by a home run by Kyla Pitzman that also scored McKi Needham, giving the Mariners a 3-0 lead that they never relinquished.
Needham hit 3 for 3 — including a home run on the final play of the game in the bottom of the fourth — with four RBI and three runs to lead the Homer offense, while seven other players each got a hit as well.
Amber McDonald returned from injury to lead SoHi with a 2-for-3 outing, adding a RBI and a run. Ila Cobb also went 2 for 3 with a RBI and run. McDonald and Olivia Farrell both hit triples for the Stars.
In the pitching circle, Pam Jantzi earned the win with 3 1-3 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, two walks and one strikeout. Needham recorded the save with three hits, one earned run and no walks. Delaney Schneider tossed a complete game for SoHi, giving up 10 hits, walking 10 and striking out none.
