Spencer, Ia (Northwest Iowa Now) – All signs said we were in for another pitcher’s dual Thursday night in Spencer as the #15 ranked team in Class 4A Tigers played host to a strong North Union team hungry for a signature win on the season.
It was scoreless through the first 3 innings of play, with Spencer getting the only base hit and a combined 6 baserunners between the two teams.
In the top of the 4th, Maisey Bierstadt led things off for the Warriors with a reach-on-error. North Union coach Kim Price would pinch run Marissa Neilsen for Bierstadt, a move that would pay off in a big way. Neilsen took 2nd on a wild pitch, and then Shallie Walders broke the tie with an RBI single.
Each team put a runner on base with a hit in the next couple of half innings but were unable to score. Spencer loaded up the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 5th, but a great defensive play and one of North Union starter Ainsley Ulrich’s 5 strikeouts kept the Tigers off the board.
North Union immediately made Spencer pay for the 3 stranded runners. Bierstadt led off the inning by getting on base for the 2nd consecutive at bat with a walk and Walders doubled to put runners on 2nd and 3rd for Aslynn Sobolik.
Spencer got runners on base in each of the 6th and 7th innings but were unable to bring them in as North Union pulled off the upset win 4-0.
Ulrich recorded her 14th win of the season in the circle, throwing 7 complete with 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts. The Warriors improve to 14-5 this year and prepare for another Top of Iowa West Division matchup against Forest City at home on Friday.
Jersey Vail absorbs the loss for Spencer, throwing 7 innings complete with 6 hits, 4 runs, 2 earned, 2 walks and 10 strikeouts. Spencer drops to 14-3 this year and will have another non-conference matchup Friday, at home, against MOC-Floyd Valley who the Tigers beat 5-3 back on May 29th.
Box Score R H E LOB
North Union 4 6 2 6
Spencer 0 5 2 8
WP: Ainsley Ulrich (14-4) 7IP 5H 0R 1BB 5K
LP: Jersey Vail (14-3) 7IP 6H 4R(2ER) 2BB 10K
Shallie Walders (NU) 2-3 2H 2B 1R 1RBI
Aslynn Sobolik (NU) 2-3 2H 2B HR 1R 3RBI
