Softball: Pioneer wins thriller on Campbell’s walk-off double to earn split with Skyline

Skyline dominated the first game of a softball doubleheader with rival Pioneer on Monday with a 7-0 shutout victory but the Pioneers bounced back to take the nightcap 8-7 and earn the split.

In the opener, Carson Fox took care of the Pioneer bats. The Eagles pitcher went all seven innings and allowed just two hits without a walk while racking up 11 strikeouts. Yeah, she was pretty dominant.

On the offensive side of the field, the Eagles scored a run in the first and third before putting up three in the fourth. Skyline added a run in the fifth and sixth innings and finished with 12 hits.

Gabbie Toth had herself a game. Skyline’s leadoff hitter was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jordan Hall and Reyna Hyliard (two runs) each had two hits for the Eagles.

Jordan Marion had both of Pioneer’s hits.

The nightcap was a thriller from start to finish. Skyline scored three runs in the first inning and one in the second and third innings. But Pioneer had a run in the first and four in the second as the game was tied 5-5 after three.

The Pioneers took a 6-5 lead in the fourth and then went ahead 7-5 after six. The Eagles answered with two runs in the seventh to tie the game. In the bottom of the eighth, Pioneer’s Rory Campbell drove home the winning run with a walk-off double.

Pioneer had 12 hits while Skyline had 10.

Toth continued to stay hot at the plate. She collected two more hits on the day and scored twice. Sarah Larson had three hits and four RBI and Megan Bondy was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for the Eagles.

Pioneer’s Marion had two hits and three runs from the leadoff spot. Ceci Maixner had two doubles and three RBI and Samantha Markel had two hits for the Pioneers.

Pioneer’s Olivia Guidinger went eight innings and allowed six hits and three walks while striking out eight to earn the win.