The high school softball home portion of the schedule began for Coach Tom Kennedy’s Greene County Rams on Wednesday night in Jefferson with a victory over Gilbert, 8-5. The Rams improve to 2-0 in Heart of Iowa Activities Conference play and 2-3 overall by breaking a three game losing streak. The Tigers fell to 0-5 and 0-2.

The Tigers scored twice in the top of the first, but then the Rams scored the next eight runs before Gilbert plated the final three runs of the contest.

Senior Samantha Hardaway was the starting and winning pitcher as she picked up her first win of the season. She went 5-1/3 innings with six hits allowed, two walks and three strikeouts  Junior Jenna Beyers picked up the save and threw the last 1-2/3 innings.

Senior Laurin Lyons hit a solo homer down the left field line in the second inning to tie the game 2-2. It was her first of the season and her second career HR. Lyons also had a run batted in on a basis loaded walk for a two RBI night. Freshman Danielle Hoyle had a double and two singles, Eighth grader Carmyn Paup singled twice, as did ninth grader Lilly Muir. Muir and Paup each drove in two runs with one RBI for Hoyle, Hardaway,

Greene County is off today. The Rams play in Nevada Friday night, then are in the Bondurant-Farrar Tournament Saturday.