Bombers bomb away, hit four home runs in regional championship victory

MACOMB, Ill. — One swing is all Sarah Stufflebeam needed to set the tone.

After Kaitlyn Robinson retired the Rushville-Industry softball team  in order in the top of the first inning of Friday’s Class 2A Macomb Regional championship game, Stufflebeam cracked a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame and propelled Macomb to an 11-2 victory.

The regional title is the second in a row for the Bombers, who advance to the Class 2A Quincy Notre Dame Sectional. Macomb (23-4) will face Auburn at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Backyard.

Ainsley Holthaus led off the bottom of the first inning for Macomb with a single, was sacrificed into scoring position and trotted home as Stufflebeam homered to center field.

The Rockets cut the deficit in half in the top of the third, but the Bombers answered immediately. Natalie Nicholson hit a one-out home run to left field in the bottom of the inning. When Rushville scored in the fourth, Macomb answered again as a leadoff double by Zoey Wagoner kickstarted a five-run frame.

Back-to-back errors by the Rockets led to two runs, and Stufflebeam hit another two-run homer to center field. An error and an Allison Stortzum single plated another run.

Kenadee Allensworth homered in the fifth, and Stortzum had a two-run double in the sixth.

The Bombers finished with 10 hits — seven going for extra bases.

Robinson earned the victory, allowing one earned run and seven hits while striking out five and walking two.