Seventh-inning home runs by Tacey Belina and Izzy Nolan pushed the Class C No. 9 Fort Calhoun softball team past Omaha Mercy on Tuesday night.
The Pioneers (9-3 overall) trailed the host Monarchs 4-3 going into the final inning, but won 9-4. The loss dropped Mercy to 5-15.
The home team earned its lead by loading the bases twice during the bottom of the sixth frame. It secured its one-run advantage on a wild pitch, though Belina recovered and ended the inning by strikeout. She tied the game, too, pounding a solo home run to lead off the seventh.
FCHS' Addie Benoit, Anna Taylor and Allison Prunty loaded the bases from there, setting up Nolan for the two-out grand slam that followed.
Ahead 8-4, the Pioneers added a ninth run before securing three outs to end the game in their favor. Belina struck out five batters across four innings, while Taylor had two Ks in three frames.
Nolan finished with a team-best five RBIs on two hits, including a double, while Belina drove in two runs. Prunty notched an RBI, too, while Izzy Greenough (two), Kaylee Taylor, Anna Taylor, Lucie Larsen and Dehlia Hallberg had hits.
Calhoun was scheduled to play in Louisville on Thursday and next competes Saturday during a Nebraska City tournament.
FCHS SOFTBALL LINE SCORE
Tuesday
No. 9 Fort Calhoun 9, Omaha Mercy 4
FCHS (9-3) 0 0 1 2 0 0 6 — 9 12 1
MERCY (5-15) 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 — 4 8 2
