Gilbert entered Friday night’s Heart of Iowa Activities Conference softball game with Greene County in Jefferson trying to sweep the two-game season series with the Rams. Game one on June 19 saw Greene County lead early 3-0 before Gilbert won 4-3 after a late comeback. This time, the 3-0 lead held up and the Rams upended the Tigers  on a one-hit shutout.

Coach Tom Kennedy’s team is now 2-7 overall and in the HOIAC after halting a seven game losing streak, while the Tigers stand at 8-5 and 6-4 in the conference.

Friday’s game was broadcast on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com. Freshman Emma Hoyle for the Rams has had a nagging hip/back issue for several months, and it seemed to flare up this week. Hoyle was special for the first six innings, allowing just one hit, a single, while walking two, hitting one, and striking out four. Due to injury, Hoyle exited prior to the seventh inning and was replaced by eighth grader Kaylee Stalder. There was a scare to the first batter she faced, a ball with home run distance that went just foul down the left field line. Stalder then proceeded to retire the Tigers in order with a pair of fly outs to left and a foul pop up in front of first base. Hoyle got the win and Stalder picked up the save in just her third varsity pitching performance.

Both defenses sparkled as there were no errors in a quickly played contest that took just 74 minutes. The Rams had been averaging four errors per game and had allowed 22 unearned runs. The shut out was the first of the season.

Greene County has gone the first nine games of the season without an extra base hit and they had just four singles on Friday.The key to a three run fourth was all four hits came in a span of five batters off freshman lefty Lauren Nissen. Sophomore Carmyn Paup had a one out base hit. She was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice off Hoyle’s bat. Freshman Emma Stream followed with a base hit and senior Tieryn Tucker singled to load the sacks. Senior Kyla Beyers came through with a two run single to left with two outs and a 1-2 count to put the Rams up 2-0. A wild pitch scored the third Greene County run.

Gilbert and North Polk (Alleman) leave the HOIAC at the end of this season to join the Raccoon River Activities Conference.

The Rams play two varsity games on Monday in Alleman vs. NP after being rained out the first time around. Action starts at 5 p.m. Thee Comets are ranked eighth in Class 3A by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and are leading the HOIAC.