The Roland-Story Norsemen baseball and softball teams made the trip east into Hardin County on Thursday night, to take on the South Hardin Tigers in non-conference action in Eldora. Roland-Story baseball entered with a record of 16-12, while Roland-Story softball entered with a record of 12-16.
Roland-Story baseball would use a fast start to propel them against the Tigers, scoring 5 runs in the top of the first. After South Hardin would score a run each in the 1st and 2nd, the Norsemen would tack 3 more runs on to lead 8-3 after 3 innings. Roland-Story would then blow the doors open with 4 runs in the top of 7th, and would stay the course for a 12-4 win. William Zamzow and Sam Knoll would each finish with 3 RBI, while Ben Greenfield added 2 RBI of his own as well. Jake Knoll would pick up the win on the mound, pitching 6 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and struck out 5.
Norsemen softball would fall behind for most of the night against a stout South Hardin team, trailing 5-0 after 4 innings, and 7-1 after 6 innings. However, as they have most of the season, Roland-Story found a way to make things interesting at the end, putting up 4 runs in the 7th, but ultimately falling by a final of 7-5. Alynn Solberg would go 3-for-4 with a double, 2 singles and 2 RBI, while Kayley Birkland would for 2-for-4 with 2 singles and 2 RBI. Addy Sabatino was charged with the loss, pitch 2.1 innings, allowing 5 runs off 5 hits and striking out just 1.
Roland-Story softball returns to action on Friday, when they compete in the Ottumwa Classic. Roland-Story baseball returns to action on Saturday, when they, again, take on South Hardin in their Class 2A District opener at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg.