Longhorns drop game to Mid-Buchanan

By Phil Cobb | August 25, 2015 |

CHRIS ROUSH/DAILY FORUM
South Nodaway sophomore Elizabeth Turpin makes the throw of to first to get the runner out. The Longhorns lost Tuesday night’s game 19-4 to Mid-Buchanan.

The South Nodaway softball team took the field for the second time in as many days Tuesday night.

Coming off the season-opening loss to Albany Monday night, 13-2, the Longhorns took on Mid-Buchanan in a non-conference matchup.

The Dragons struck first with two runs in the first inning and never trailed after that, winning 19-4.

But, Longhorns head coach Dillon Lowrey said he saw a lot of positive things from the squad.

“We got those first game jitters out of the way, I think,” Lowrey said. “It was huge to see them hit better today. The jitters are something that everyone has to get through. We don’t see a lot of live pitches during practice, but the best hitting practice you can get is during a game.”

Junior shortstop Sydney Harlan led the way for the Longhorns, going 3-for-4 with three singles and two runs scored. Along with Harlan, junior catch Katelyn Kramer went 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored. Senior third baseman Sydney Murphy added a double and an RBI in the victory.

On the mound for the Longhorns, sophomore Elizabeth Turpin made her second start in consecutive days. In Monday night’s game, Turpin struck out six in six innings of work.

She followed that performance tossing a complete game Tuesday night with seven strikeouts.

“She has a great work ethic,” Lowrey said. “It boils down to the fact that she wants to work on her pitching and it shows on the field.”

While South Nodaway as been outscored 32-6 in its first two games, the damage has occurred in only a couple of innings. Lowrey said that it’s something the girls have to get work on and push through it.

“We had a bad inning yesterday and we had a bad inning today,” Lowrey said. “We will improve on that, but we can’t dwell on these things. We have to keep moving forward.”

South Nodaway (0-2) has a day off Wednesday, but will go on the road Thursday, as the Longhorns take on the King City Wildkats at 5 p.m.

CHRIS ROUSH/DAILY FORUM
Junior Sydney Harlan scores from third base on a close play during Tuesday night’s game against Mid-Buchanan. The Longhorns lost the game 19-4.