McCook extended their losing streak to five on Tuesday, dropping them down to 1-5. They came up short against the Cozad Haymakers, falling 18-9. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last six times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Hannah Peterson was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Those RBI were her first of the season. Josilin Miller was another key player, going 1-for-2 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
As for Cozad, the victory got them back to even at 5-5. Considering they have won four games by more than eight runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
On Cozad's side, Sara Howell made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up five earned (and four unearned) runs off five hits. Those eight strikeouts gave Howell a new career-high. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Isabella Hernandez, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and two doubles. Another player making a difference was Aubrey Hammerlun, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Looking ahead, McCook will take on Crete on Thursday. The Cardinals' pitching crew has only allowed three runs per game this season, so the Bison's hitters will have their work cut out for them. As for Cozad, they will head out on the road to take on Highway 6 at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Haymakers' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Trailblazers have averaged an impressive 7.8 runs per game this season.
