The Washington Demons remained unbeaten in conference softball action this season by defeating Fort Madison 4-2 last night. Washington grabbed the initial lead with two runs in the first inning and one in the second, but they would not score again until the sixth.

Fortunately, senior pitcher Halle Cuddeback and the Demon defense held their ground. Cuddeback threw the last five innings in relief of sophomore starter Colbie Greiner and allowed no runs on two hits and a walk while also collecting three strikeouts. After the game, Cuddeback told KCII Sports that she’s always prepared to step into the circle.

“I always try to be ready during games,” Cuddeback said, “and every time I see [Coach] Obermann walk out of the dugout, I’m looking at him [and] making sure that I don’t need to go. Tonight was a night that he called me in, so I just always make sure I’m ready [and] make sure my shoulder’s warm.”

Head coach Ben Obermann praised his senior pitcher on the postgame show.

“Halle’s been waiting her turn,” Obermann said. “She’s come in a few times this year in relief, and we know she’s a different look from the left side [with a] different type of spin, and Halle just kept shutting them down.”

“[I] give that kid a ton of credit, she’s always ready to go, she’s dialed in and she’s just got that great mentality that she’s going to come in when needed. Nothing gets to her. She’s got great composure in the circle, and [I am] really happy for her for the night she had.”

Senior Ella Greiner and junior Leighton Salazar had two hits and one run scored each for Washington, the ninth-ranked team in the state in Class 3A, which raises its record to 6-0 in the Southeast Conference and 11-4 overall. The Demons will play again today and tomorrow at the Jesup Invitational.

Washington baseball would not have the same fortune against Fort Madison, suffering a 6-4 loss. Trailing most of the night, the Demons summoned a spectacular seventh-inning rally by scoring three times and forcing extra innings.

But the Bloodhounds got three runs right back in the top of the eighth and held off another comeback attempt. The defeat keeps Washington winless in conference play and drops their overall record to 2-8 ahead of their next game this evening at West Branch.