AMES — The Marshalltown softball team resisted Class 5A No. 15 Ames for as long as it could before the Little Cyclones broke through.
Ames took both games of Monday’s Iowa Alliance Conference North Division doubleheader, sweeping the Bobcats 7-0 and 9-1.
Little Cyclones pitchers surrendered just four hits to the youthful Bobcats (2-3, 2-2), including none in the second game. Marshalltown’s only run of the night came courtesy of a throwing error.
Marshalltown sophomore pitcher Briley Danielson held Ames (5-0, 4-0) scoreless for the first three innings of the day, but the Little Cyclones finally struck for three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Danielson took the loss, allowing three earned runs on five hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out three.
Sydney Smalley scattered four Marshalltown singles over the complete-game pitching performance for Ames, striking out 11 for the win.
Gianna Baune, Kate Sandvick, Laney Danielson and Kaelyn Coleman had Marshalltown’s four hits in the opener.
Ames senior Josie Theilen pitched a no-hitter in the nightcap but allowed the Bobcats’ run. She walked three, hit two batters and struck out six in the win, giving up one unearned run.
Baune reached safely on a dropped third strike with one out in the third, advanced on a walk to Sandvick, and scored on a throwing error after Briley Danielson flew out to center.
Hanna Osgood took the loss in the circle for MHS, allowing eight earned runs on 13 hits and one walk over 4 1/3 frames.
Marshalltown will host Class 4A No. 4 Fort Dodge in Wednesday’s home-opening doubleheader, and Des Moines Roosevelt visits for a twinbill Thursday.