Perry sophomore Emma Olejniczak struck out 14 but it wasn’t quite enough Friday night as 2nd ranked Norwalk squeaked out a 4-1 victory over Perry in the home opener for the Jayettes.  Perry out hit Norwalk 7-4 but could not overcome a three run sixth inning.

Perry jumped on the board in the third when Johanna Diw delivered a two strike rbi single scoring Maddie West who had doubled to start the inning.   It was a short lived lead as Norwalk was able to get the run back in their half of the fourth when freshman Alyx Witt delivered a solo home run off the scoreboard to tie the game at one.

Olejniczak ran into trouble in the sixth inning issuing two walks and three wild pitches.  Speedy Lauren Bagby started the frame with a bunt single and Rachel Garner followed by reaching safely following a Perry error.  After an infield pop out by Witt, Norwalk Head Coach Andy Pals took a huge gamble and ordered a double steal.  It worked perfectly as Bagby swiped third just barely beating the throw.  Two pitches later, Bagby scored on a wild pitch and Taylor Goode delivered an RBI double off the fence to give Norwalk a 3-1 lead.  Goode’s courtesy runner Regan Julch scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Perry tried to battle back in the 7th but Sidney Vancil was thrown out at third base on a controversial call trying to stretch a double into a triple to start the inning.   Goode followed up the solid defensive play by retiring Brooke Huntington and West to end the game.

Olejniczak was dominant for most of the night.  She struck out 7 consecutive batters at one point from the first inning through the third.  She finished allowing three earned runs on four hits with 3 base on balls.  Vancil and Diw led the offense with two hits a piece.

Perry falls to 0-2 after opening the year against a pair of top 7 programs in Iowa’s second largest class.  Norwalk jumps to 1-1 on the season.

The Jayettes will travel to Carroll Wednesday night for a RRC matchup.