Two home runs propel MAC softball past Olney Central
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Mineral Area third baseman Ana Turner throws to retire a Lewis & Clark batter during the seventh inning of an NJCAA softball game on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
PARK HILLS – Ana Turner smashed a three-run homer in the third inning of game one as the Mineral Area softball team returned to action at home on Monday.
Grace Barton allowed only two hits while striking out one batter over five quality innings, and the Cardinals rolled past Olney Central 9-1 to begin a doubleheader.
Jacie Smith opened the scoring with a solo shot against losing hurler Alli Downes, and catcher Emma Thiltgen reached base three straight times on a double and two walks.
Five runs in the bottom of the fifth extended a 4-1 advantage, and invoked an early conclusion. Anna Crowley drove in the first two with a single.
Kelsie Politte made the margin 8-1 with a two-RBI triple, and registered five defensive putouts in left field. Thiltgen ended the contest with her iniitial hit.
Miley Conklin doubled, and Evvie Blankenship singled and Rose Consolino walked twice for MAC, who finished with no errors.
Bailee Frichtl doubled and walked for the Blue Knights. Jenna Shelley singled and scored in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Madison Francois.
Downes yielded eight runs – five earned – on five hits and five walks while fanning four over 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Mineral Area 13, Olney Central 3
Ana Turner again powered the offense by going 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored, and Mineral Area beat Olney Central 13-3 in game two.
Kelsie Politte went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI, and Dixie Cloud provided a two-run double plus two walks to finish 1-for-1 overall.
The Cardinals grabbed a 4-0 lead as Cloud connected for extra bases after two runs crossed the plate on an error during the first inning.
Turner doubled and scored on a squeeze play to make it 8-0 in the second. Politte executed the bunt, then notched two more RBI on a double in the third.
Miley Conklin singled, scored two runs, and had an RBI ground out for Mineral Area (14-6). Evvie Blankenship doubled, and Brianna DeSpain stole two bases after reaching safely on errors.
Emma Mulholland allowed one run on two hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings for the win. Libby Mesch walked three and gave two hits while obtaining the last five outs in relief.
Olney Central (0-10) broke the shutout after trailing 13-0 in the fourth. Jessica Hovious supplied a single and sacrifice fly.
Jenna Shelley and Shelby Seay singled for the Blue Knights. An RBI infield hit by Kennedi Odum, who reached base three times, prolonged the action ahead of back-to-back walks with two outs.
Mesch sealed the outcome by retiring Hovious on a ground ball to DeSpain at second base.
Three OCC pitchers were tasked with working around five errors. Gwyn Hardimon surrendered seven runs – three earned – on five hits before being replaced in the second inning.
