Bullets 18s go 1-1 in Lincoln League

COLUMBUS - The Columbus Pinnacle Bank Bullets 18-and-under softball team split a pair of games during Lincoln League play Wednesday.

The Bullets (19-9) dropped the opening game to the Nebraska Swingers 14-2, but recovered to defeat the Norfolk Golden Girls 6-1.

In the first game, Whitney Cave took the loss in the circle, but four Columbus errors accounted for three unearned runs. Jaisa Gutierrez came on in relief in the third inning and shut down the Swingers for two frames.

In the sixth inning, the Swingers erupted with nine hits for nine runs.

Melissa Pekny led the Bullets' offense by going 2-for-3 with a triple and a double, and Andrea Wyman had a triple. Heather Colby, Brittany Sock and Cave recorded the only other hits for the Bullets.

After its early struggles, the Columbus defense tighten up in the second game and didn't commit an errors.

Brittany Schuller was the winning pitcher. She gave up six hits, two walks and recorded six strikeouts in six innings.

Columbus started quickly as the first four batters of the game reached base and scored for a 4-0 lead.

The Bullets offense finished with nine hits, led by Cave's two doubles. Tammie Kozak and Mollie Jones had two hits each.

The Bullets will play in the Class A state softball tournament in Hastings, which starts today. They open up with the Nebraska Storm at 5 p.m.