Big offense powers Harrisburg over Mitchell softball

May 13—MITCHELL — Harrisburg, the top team in the Class AA softball standings, unleashed 18 runs and 13 hits in three innings, cruising to an 18-2 victory over Mitchell on Tuesday at the Cadwell Sports Complex.

Harrisburg scored four runs in the first, five more in the second inning and blew open the game with nine runs in the third inning to lead 18-0 after 2 1/2 innings. Mitchell committed seven errors in the loss.

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The Tigers, who had won 12 of the last 13 games prior to Tuesday, had four RBIs from Anna Simunek and a three-run home run from Kennedy Kokenge. Ava Gross posted four hits and Jersee Thomas and Maleia Knutson each had two hits for Harrisburg. Kylie Visker was the winning pitcher with three hits and two runs allowed and one strikeout in three innings of work.

The Kernels’ Matteah Graves had an RBI triple and scored a run, while Lauren Van Overschelde also drove in a run and Jasmine Dirkes had a double and a run scored. Mitchell had Rylee Jennings, Brooklyn Schlimgen and Macey Linke pitch in the game, with Jennings taking the loss with 2 1/3 innings pitched, seven hits and 10 runs (seven earned) and three walks.

Harrisburg (13-2) takes on Rapid City Stevens at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15 in Sioux Falls.

Mitchell (5-9) will travel to Brookings on May 16 in a makeup game from earlier in the season before closing the regular-season schedule on May 23 by hosting Tea Area.