Keota softball was waiting for a chance to break through with their first win of the season and Saturday at the IMS classic they did so with authority, beating the host school 13-3 in five innings. The Eagles never trailed, taking a 5-0 lead after the second inning where they scored all of their runs without the benefit of a hit as IMS committed four errors in the frame. Scoring in the inning were Kelsi Sieren, Grace Shemanski, Mallory Ladehoft, Courtney Hyman and Olivia Sieren. IMS had a quick answer in the top of the third with three runs of the own as McKayla Brush had an RBI single to drive in Avery Blauvelt and Demi Brezina. Brush came around to score when Jacayla Litwiller was hit by a pitch.

Keota would get one more in the fourth when Courtney Hyman came in to score on a passed ball, giving the Eagles a 6-3 lead despite the fact that IMS pitcher Rachel Miller had still not surrendered a hit. In the fifth inning the Eagles finished what they started with seven runs to enact the mercy rule. Runs were scored in the inning by Kelsi Sieren, Raigan Sprouse, Shemanski, Abby Schulte, Ladehoft, Olivia Sieren and Mallory Woltering. Kelsi Sieren, Sprouse, Shemanski, Schulte and Olivia Sieren each had an RBI. After the game Keota Head Coach Skye Hahn talked about how important this win was to her team.

“We’re very excited, and the girls are very happy and they pushed hard and worked the entire game,” Hahn said. “In practice we always talk about being focused and waiting for the ball to be in your zone, and they did that today, they waited for their pitch. The girls were very sharp today, their heads were in the game, and they were ready to play, and it showed today.”

Sprouse got the win for the Eagles going five innings, giving up two hits and three runs while walking three and striking out two. Miller took the loss for IMS going all five innings allowing four hits, 13 runs but only six of them were earned because of five IMS errors. She struck out two and walked seven. Shemanski led Keota at the plate going one for two with a hit, one driven in and two runs scored. IMS travels to Winfield-Mt. Union tonight, Keota travels to English Valleys for conference play on Tuesday.