Seventh inning slumps

Southwestern third baseman Kaylee Harris.

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It’s called a slump, and that’s what the Southwestern softball team is currently enduring. Holding leads entering the seventh inning of both games Monday, the Spartans ended up being swept in doubleheader action by Marshalltown — extending the current losing streak to eight games. “It’s frustrating on everybody — players and coaches,” said SWCC coach Lindsay Stumpff. “It’s just something that we’re going to have to work out of and we can’t revert back to other games. We have to find a win and that will get us back in the groove.” In both games Monday, the Spartans had their chances. In a game one 7-6 loss, the Spartans led 4-2 entering the seventh inning. But Marshalltown scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning and pulled away for the win. “Instead of looking for good things to happen, we look for bad things,” said Stumpff. “It’s mental. We didn’t make hardly any errors, we hit the ball well, but we are fighting with ourselves.” Former Creston player Kaylee Harris led the Spartans in game one by going 3-for-3 at the plate while Cortni Livengood was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. In game two, Southwestern gave up five Marshalltown runs in the top of the seventh inning again — losing 6-5. The Spartans led 4-1 entering the seventh inning. Angie Hawkins, Ashtyn Neill and Tiffany Jeanes each had two hits in the loss. Entering today’s doubleheader at Marshalltown, Southwestern (11-29, 2-22 ICCAC) is 1-8 overall in games decided by one run. Marshalltown 7, Southwestern 6 R H E MCC 101 000 5 — 7 15 0 SWCC 103 000 2 — 6 9 1 S: Ashtyn Neill 0K 1BB and Angie Hawkins. M: Jessie Williams 3K 0BB and Kate Snuggs. W — Williams. L — Neill (6-13). 2B — S: Brittney Auten, Cortni Livengood, Hawkins. RBI — S: Livengood 2, Hawkins 2, Auten 1. Multiple hitters — S: Kaylee Harris 3, Livengood 2. Marshalltown 6, Southwestern 5 R H E MCC 001 000 5 — 6 6 1 SWCC 001 201 1 — 5 9 0 S: Tiffany Coon 3K 2BB and Angie Hawkins. M: Kendra Markle 3K 3BB and Sara Heeren. W — Markle. L — Coon (5-13). 2B — S: Hawkins. RBI — S: Ashtyn Neill 2, Tiffany Jeanes 1. Multiple hitters — S: Hawkins 2, Jeanes 2, Neill 2.