Norwalk and Dallas Center-Grimes split a wild softball doubleheader at DC-G on Thursday night, maintaining their first-place tie in the Little Hawkeye Conference. The Class 4A sixth-ranked Mustangs rallied late to win game one 3-2, then built a 6-0 lead after two innings of the night cap. The 4A second-ranked Warriors stormed back, however, winning 9-7 in a game heard live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3).

After Dallas Center-Grimes opened game two with three runs in the first and three in the second, Norwalk countered with a three-run third and a three-run fourth to tie the score. Carly Brewer ripped a two-run double in the third and added a sacrifice fly one inning later. DC-G took back the lead in the bottom of the fourth on Aubrey Johannsen’s run-scoring hit, but the Warriors rallied again for two runs in the sixth and an insurance run in the seventh.

Norwalk senior Lauren Black, who tied the game in the fourth with an RBI hit up the middle, delivered again in the sixth with a two-out, two-strike, go-ahead two-run single to the fence. Brewer and Black both finished with two hits and three RBI while Nyah Hulbert went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Bailey Birmingham added a double, a single and two runs.

After allowing six runs on seven hits in the first two frames, Norwalk pitcher Olivia Dougherty nearly went the distance in the circle. She was one out away from a complete game when an error and a bunt single put the tying runs on base in the top of the seventh. Brewer relieved Dougherty and promptly struck out Reese Burke to end the ball game.

DC-G totaled 13 hits in the night cap but stranded 10 runners on base. Macee Reiling belted a two-run homer in the first inning and Burke added a two-run single in the second.

In game one, Jaylynn Brandt’s two-run single gave Norwalk a 2-1 lead in the third inning, but the Warriors would not score again off DC-G ace Aubrey Johannsen. Bella Mulder’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference maker as Johannsen outdueled Brewer.

Norwalk is now 22-3 overall and 13-2 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. DC-G stands at 20-4 overall and 12-2 in the LHC. The Warriors face another tough road test tonight, playing at 5A second-ranked West Des Moines Valley at 7:00 p.m.