Pekin 262 25 — 17 18 1

E.V. 010 00 — 1 4 3

Pekin battery — Lesley Stone (W, 8-0) (5IP, 4H, R, ER, 4K, BB), Swanson and Caylee Johnson catching.

2B — Crouse 2, Blakely, Deustch, Holmes, Martin, Tolle.

Hits — Crouse 3-4, Blakely 2-3, Holmes 2-3, Martin 2-3, Ashley Morales 2-4, Tolle 2-4, Sterling 1-1, Bradshaw 1-2, Fritchen 1-2, Swanson 1-2, Deustch 1-5.

RBI — Crouse 3, Deustch 3, Holmes 2, Tolle 2, Blakely, Johnson, Martin, Morales, Sterling, Swanson.

Runs — Crouse 3, Blakely 2, Bradshaw 2, Deustch 2, Martin 2, Morales 2, Tolle 2, Holmes, Sterling.

Cardinal routs Holy Trinity in four

ELDON — The Cardinal softball team now knows one more win on their home diamond will give them at least a piece of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South division crown. If fifth-ranked New London were to stumble between now and then, the Comets would have a shot at the outright title next week.

Cardinal took advantage of six Holy Trinity errors an scored multiple runs in every inning. Felisha Durflinger made sure one big inning would be enough, shutting out the Crusaders on just one hit and two total baserunners allowed in a 12-0 Comet win Tuesday.

Plenty of Comet hitters helped support Durflinger’s 13th win of the season. Seven different Cardinal batters collected a hit and 10 Comets scored at least one run.

Chelsea Greiner led Cardinal at the plate, going 3-3 with a double and three runs scored. State track champion Sarah Yeager also collected three hits and ran around the bases for two runs while also driving in two.

Katelyn Campbell added a triple and collected a game-high three RBI for the Comets, who maintained a share of the SEISC South’s top spot with No. 5 (1A) New London. The Comets have just one more conference game to play, a match-up against Central Lee on Monday that would give Cardinal at least a share of the conference championship with a win.

Before that, however, the Comets (16-13, 12-1) will play four games in the 35th Ottumwa Softball Classic over the Independence Day holiday. Cardinal plays in the first two games of the classic at Huston Field on Friday morning, against North Mahaska at 8:30 a.m. and Urbandale at 10 a.m., before playing Albia and Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Saturday.