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SPENCER – The Spencer softball team did what it needed to do Saturday to remain in the Cloverbelt Conference East Division title chase.
The Rockets split a doubleheader with Neillsville, winning the first game 12-10 before losing the second game 12-6 at Spencer High School.
Both teams came into the twinbill unbeaten in the Cloverbelt East. Spencer improves to 14-4 overall and 13-1 in the conference with a doubleheader at home against Augusta on Tuesday remaining on the conference schedule.
The Warriors are now 11-1 overall and in the conference. Neillsville has a doubleheader at Gilman on Tuesday and another against Marshfield Columbus Catholic that has not been rescheduled.
In the opener, Spencer had eight hits from seven different players in the victory. Heidi Guenther went 2-for-3 and Sam Nikolay had a single and three RBIs for Spencer.
Courtney Poeschel was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs for the Warriors.
Tynae Phillips earned the win, allowing 10 runs, but only three of which were earned. Spencer led 7-1 after three innings and held off a late rally as Neillsville scored four times in the top of the seventh but the Rockets got out of the jam.
Neillsville used a six-run third inning to open up a 10-1 lead and cruised to the win in Game 2.
Despite solo homers from Paige Johnson and Macie Weber, the Rockets only managed six hits in the loss.
Neillsville, on the other hand, had 16 hits against three Rockets pitchers.
Game 1
Rockets 12, Warriors 10
Neillsville 010 311 4 – 10 10 2
Spencer 250 023 x – 12 8 6
WP: Tynae Phillips. LP: Courtney Poeschel.
SO: Poeschel 5; Phillips 2. BB: Poeschel 3; Phillips 3.
Top hitters: N, Poeschel 3×4, 2 2Bs, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Taylor Gleisner 2×4, 2B, 2 runs; Jenny Lindner 3B, 2 runs; Opelt 2 runs. S, Heidi Guenther 2×3; Mandie Schultz 2 RBIs; Brooke Kettleborough 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Sam Nikolay 3 RBIs.
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Game 2
Warriors 12, Rockets 6
Spencer 010 300 2 – 6 6 3
Neillsville 226 200 x – 12 16 5
WP: Poeschel. LP: Guenther.
SO: Guenther 1, Macie Weber 2, Marisa Johnson 0; Poeschel 4. BB: Guenther 2, Weber 1, M. Johnson 0; Poeschel 3.
Top hitters: S, Paige Johnson HR, 2 runs; Weber HR, 2 runs. N, Lindner 3×5, 4 RBIs; Gleisner 2×4, 2B, 3 RBIs; Katleyn Crothers 2×5 3 runs; Sami Larabee 3×4, 4 runs; Zickert 2×4.
Records: Spencer 14-4, 13-1 Cloverbelt East; Neillsville 11-1 overall and Cloverbelt East.