Softball Cardinals post 4-0 mark at home event
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Mineral Area center fielder Ava Spalding swings to reach base during the fifth inning of an NJCAA softball game against Lewis & Clark on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
PARK HILLS – Ava Spalding singled twice during an eight-run explosion in the first inning, and went 4-for-4 with three RBI from the leadoff spot as Mineral Area routed Heartland 10-2 on Friday.
Evvie Blankenship continued a scorching offensive tear by going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored as the Cardinals compiled 13 hits in the abbreviated outcome.
Heartland grabbed a 2-0 lead against winning starter Emma Mulholland on an RBI single by Jenna Adkins, who also tripled during a 3-for-3 game.
But the first seven Mineral Area batters reached base to chase Jayde Gonet in the home half. Miley Conklin doubled in Spalding, and Ana Turner created a 4-2 lead on a two-run double.
Spalding drove in two more with a two-out single, and Blankenship made it 8-2 with an RBI double. Rose Consolino highlighted her 2-for-3 showing with an RBI single in the fourth.
Mulholland allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while notching two strikeouts over three innings. Grace Barton closed with two scoreless frames and two strikeouts.
Turner bolstered the Cardinals at 2-for-3 with two doubles. Kelsie Politte added a single and RBI.
Kendall Lowery singled twice for Heartland. Keearrah Brown worked 4 2/3 innings in relief, and yielded three runs on eight hits.
Mineral Area 10, Shawnee 0
PARK HILLS – Mykencie Hutchinson doubled twice and scored two runs as Mineral Area continued an unbeaten softball weekend later Friday in a 10-0 shutout over Shawnee.
Libby Mesch shined in the circle with a four-hitter. The sophomore right-hander tallied three strikeouts and allowed no walks over five innings.
Jacie Smith matched a team-high with three RBI on two extra-base hits, and spotted the Cardinals a 3-0 advantage on a triple in the bottom of the third.
Evvie Blankenship also drove in three while going 2-for-3, and Ana Turner reached base three times on a single and two walks. Emma Thiltgen singled with two runs scored.
Hutchinson ignited a seven-run outburst in the fourth with a double, and Blankenship singled home two for a 6-0 margin. Zoey Arnold and Smith followed with two-run doubles.
Blankenship finished a combined 9-of-11 with nine RBI over four games in the weekend showcase. MAC defeated Lewis & Clark 12-6 and Hawkeye 3-1 on Thursday.
Sydney Skiver was 2-for-2 at the plate while Andi Webb and Kylee Kleppin singled for Shawnee.
Losing starter Drew Besheres gave seven runs – three earned – on six hits over 3 1/3 innings. She fanned three batters and walked two.
Scheduled Saturday action was canceled due to cold temperatures.
