Gehlen notches 10-2 win over Unity

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) Gehlen shortstop Kayla Hatting fires to first, turning a double play for the Lady Jays after she forced the Unity Christian runner out at second during Gehlen's 10-2 win Monday. [Click to enlarge]

The bats were on fire as Gehlen Catholic pounded out 12 hits in a 10-2 War Eagle Conference win over Unity Christian Monday evening in Le Mars.

But it took the Lady Jays a couple innings to get an offensive spark.

"We definitely got off to a slow start in the first and second," Gehlen coach Patty Hatting said. "We didn't hit the ball really well at first."

The visiting Knights took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.

"Once they got the lead, our girls decided to start hitting," Hatting said. "Our bats came alive and we hit consistently through the last four innings."

It did not take the Lady Jays long to capture a lead as they plated seven in the bottom of the third.

Gehlen added two more in the top of the fourth.

Kayla Hatting drew a walk and then stole second before Kayla Holtgrewe reached on an error. Unity attempted to make an out, but overthrew as Kayla Hatting was rounding third and the ball went into the dugout. Hatting scored on the play and Holtgrewe advanced to second.

A Lexi Wiltgen single advanced Holtgrewe to third and she scored as Jessie Timmins grounded out to the shortstop.

A final run in the sixth sealed the deal for the Lady Jays, who improve to 11-4 in WEC play.

Wiltgen led the Lady Jays' offense with a 3-for-4 plate performance that included a double and an RBI.

Kayla Hatting was 2-for-3 with a double and Holtgrewe was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Rachel Tilley registered a 2-for-4 performance that included a double and two RBIs while Danielle Gunter ripped an RBI double.

Jessie Timmins and Bre Kraus each had singles for the Lady Jays, who totaled 12 hits in the win.

"Our hitting spread out throughout the lineup," Hatting said. "Just about every girl in our lineup came through with a hit tonight."

"This is the time of year we need to see that," she added, noting that postseason tournaments begin a week from Wednesday.

Gunter collected the win for Gehlen, surrendering two unearned runs on five hits and three walks in the complete-game effort. The senior fanned five in the win.

Gehlen (18-10, 11-4) continues WEC play on Wednesday as it hosts Remsen St. Mary's.