The Linn-Mar softball team is beginning to piece together the puzzle, in good fashion.

In a dominating performance, a rejuvenated Linn-Mar swept Dubuque Wahlert in a doubleheader Thursday night at the Linn-Mar field. The Lions set the 10-run rule into effect in each game, winning the opener 14-3 and the nightcap 12-2.

After overcoming several obstacles early in the season, the Lions (8-19, 4-12) have righted the tracks and were seen firing on all cylinders against Wahlert.Linn-Mar snapped a 10-game conference losing streak in the opener.

“We are finally getting people healthy and starting to play the way I thought we were capable of playing early in the year,” said Linn-Mar Coach Jon Harms. “We have so many young kids and we have had a lot of injuries and sickness. It seems like now we are finally getting over the hump and playing more confidently.”

In game one, the Lions were strong at the plate, scoring 14 runs as all but two of their starters collected hits. The game ended in the sixth inning when freshman Ellie Rizor blasted a walk-off grand slam over the left-field fence to put the mercy rule into effect.

Rizor had a stellar night, going 5-for-8 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBIs. “I just stayed confident at the plate,” she said.

The nightcap brought more Lion power as they scored 12 runs on 15 hits. “We have had trouble in the past with our hitting and once one person got a hit, the rest started coming,” said Rizor.

The hits came in bunches as the Lions scored eight runs in the fourth inning, putting them ahead 11-2. Reserve player Allissa Clauson cemented the win for the Lions, hitting a walk-off RBI single in the fifth inning for the 12-2 win.

Along with the great team effort at the plate, Linn-Mar pitchers were solid in both games. In the opener, Lauren Swanson pitched all six innings and held Wahlert (11-19, 6-12) to three runs on seven hits. In the nightcap, Dionna Jensen yielded two runs on six hits.

“Most of the night we were constantly ahead and they kept the ball down. When you do that you stand a chance to be successful and they were. It was nice to see tonight from both pitchers,” said Harms.

Linn-Mar happily reacquired player Alexis Kelsey from injury, as she went 4-for-8 with a home run and four RBIs. Maddie Rizor went 4-for-6 with five RBIs for the Lions.

Game 1

WAHLERT (3)
Rokusek, 3b, 4 1 0 0, Schmitt, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Nilles, ss, 3 0 1 1, A. Bahl, c, 3 0 1 0, Burds, lf, 3 1 1 0, Koppes, rf, 3 1 1 0, Tath, 1b, 3 0 0 1, Rogers, p, 2 0 1 0, Duve, cf, 3 0 1 0, J. Bahl, 1 0 1 0. Totals  28 3 7 3.

LINN-MAR (14)
L. Harms, rf, 4 1 2 0, Duggan, 2b, 5 1 0 1, E. Rizor, 3b, 5 2 2 4, Kelsey, ss, 4 2 2 3, Ollinger, lf, 4 2 1 0, Martins, cf, 4 1 1 2, M. Rizor, 4 1 3 2, Swanson, p, 4 1 1 1, Yearling, c, 3 1 0 0, J. Harms, 1 1 1 0, Kolf, 1 1 0 0. Totals 39 14 13 13.

Wahlert     000 012 -  3   7 1
Linn-Mar    303 134 - 14 13 1

Rogers, J. Bahl (4) and A. Bahl. Swanson and Yearling. W – Swanson. L – Rogers. 2B - Nilles, Burds, E. Rizor, Ollinger, Swanson. HR - Kelsey, E.Rizor. SB- Koppes.

Game 2

WAHLERT (2)
Rokusek, ss, 3 1 2 0, Schmitt, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Burds, 3b, 3 0 1 2, A. Bahl, c, 3 0 0 0, Koppes, rf, 2 0 1 0, Tath, p, 2 0 0 0, Rogers, 1b, 2 1 1 0, Moore, cf, 2 0 1 0, Link, lf, 1 0 0 0, Nilles, 1 0 0 0. Totals 22 2 6 2.

LINN-MAR (12)
L. Harms, ss, 4 1 2 1, Duggan, 2b, 4 0 0 0, E. Rizor, c, 4 3 3 2, Kelsey, ss, 4 2 2 1, Ollinger, lf, 3 2 2 0, Martins, cf, 3 1 3 2, M. Rizor, 1b, 3 1 1 3, Swanson, 3b, 3 1 0 0, Yearling, rf, 3 1 1 2, J. Harms, 1 0 0 0, Clauson, 1 0 1 1. Totals 33 12 15 12.

Wahlert    002 00 -  2   6 1
Linn-Mar   300 81 - 12 15 0

Tath, J. Bahl (5) and A. Bahl. Jensen and E. Rizor. W – Jensen. L – Tath. 2B - L. Harms, E. Rizor, M. Rizor. 3B - Yearling. HR - E. Rizor. SB - Rokusek, Rogers, E. Rizor, Kelsey, Swanson.