Ankeny softball coach Dave Bingham isn’t worried about his team’s recent defensive lapses.
On Friday, the 13th-ranked Hawkettes committed six errors in an 8-7 loss to visiting Carlisle, the No. 7 team in Class 4A. Ankeny also made six errors on Wednesday in an 8-5 loss at Dowling Catholic.
“We haven’t been routine,” said Bingham. “But I think if we take care of those (mistakes), we’re going to be really good.”
Carlisle jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two innings before Ankeny rallied. The Hawkettes closed the gap to 7-4 when slap hitter Larissa Miller swung away and hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the third inning.
“When they throw it inside and they basically put a right fielder behind second base, we have no other choice but to use the skill we teach to hit it over their head,” Bingham said. “And she executed it perfectly. I knew it was going to be an inside-the-parker. That was neat to see.”
Ankeny later scored two runs in the sixth to pull within 8-7, but the Hawkettes could not get any closer. They dropped to 5-2 on the season.
Marina Carter went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run in the loss. It was the second homer for Carter, who drove in two runs.
“When she decides to square one up, she can hit it out of the park,” Bingham said.
Madeleine Murphy went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Mariah Parton had an RBI.
Isabelle Noring, Laney Schick and Ashliah Hyde each knocked in two runs for Carlisle. The Wildcats raised their record to 7-3.
Kayla Brummer (0-1) took the loss. She allowed two earned runs on five hits in one inning of work before being replaced by Kendra Winfrey and Ashtyn Billings.
“We definitely had a better fight level,” Bingham said. “I’m really looking forward to next week.”
The Hawkettes will host a CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against No. 2 Fort Dodge (6-3) on Monday.
