Linn opened last week with back-to-back conference victories before dropping a close 8-7 decision Thursday at Vienna.

The Lady Cats defeated New Bloomfield 12-3 on Sept. 21, collecting 14 hits while scoring in every inning.

“As a team, we hit the ball really well,” said Coach Jason Dudenhoeffer. “Fourteen hits and 12 runs. It was a good conference win.”

Elli Dudenhoeffer and Emma Starke led the attack with four hits apiece.

Dudenhoeffer went 4-5 with a double, three RBI, and three runs, while Starke finished 4-5 with two doubles, a triple, three RBI, and a run.

Paige Senevey added two hits and an RBI, while Kenzy Hackmann, Norah Caldwell, Anna Peters, and Heslie Higginbotham each had a hit and drove in a run.

Starke earned the win in relief, allowing one run on one hit across 4.2 innings. She struck out four and walked four.

Peters started in the circle and worked 2.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs on six hits while striking out four without issuing a walk.

Linn followed with an 11-3 conference victory over Russellville on Sept. 22, again finishing with 14 hits.

“We hit the ball really well,” Dudenhoeffer said. “It was another good conference win.”

Hackmann powered the offense, going 3-5 with two home runs, three RBI, and two runs.

Senevey was perfect at the plate, finishing 4-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs, while Elli Dudenhoeffer added two hits.

Linn jumped ahead with four runs in the first inning and two more in the second.

Hackmann opened the scoring with a solo home run, and Peters and Higginbotham also drove in runs in the first.

Paige Senevey and Starke drove in runs in the second, and Hackmann added a two-run home run in the fifth.

Starke worked all seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking two.

Despite the comfortable margin, Dudenhoeffer saw an area that needs improvement.

“We had a ton of base-running errors,” he said. “We have to be better at that if we want to compete in the postseason.”

Linn’s week ended with a much tighter game Thursday at Vienna.

The Lady Cats built a 5-0 lead through three innings and eventually led 7-3 before Vienna rallied.

The Eagles tied the game at 7-7 in the fourth on a grand slam by Liberty Rowden and scored the winning run in the sixth on a solo home run by Ella Hollis.

Linn finished with seven hits.

Elli Dudenhoeffer doubled and drove in two runs, while Peters, Starke, Voss, and Higginbotham each drove in one.

Hackmann reached base three times and scored three runs.

Peters worked 4.2 innings in the circle, allowing six runs on six hits with three strikeouts and five walks.

Starke pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four and walking two.

Dudenhoeffer said Vienna’s pitcher made things difficult and the Eagles capitalized on their opportunities.

“They had a pretty good pitcher that kept us to seven hits, and they had some timely big hits,” he said.

The Lady Cats still had chances to change the outcome.

“It was a tough loss,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I say it often: It’s a game of inches.”

Linn had two runners thrown out at the plate on close plays, and several hard-hit balls went directly to Vienna defenders.

“Overall, it was a good game,” Dudenhoeffer said.

Linn’s JV team followed the varsity game with a 2-0 victory over Vienna.

The game remained scoreless until the third inning, when Ava Voss singled and two runs scored.

Colleen Clough went 2-2 and scored once, while Emily Greer also scored.

Starke started in the circle and struck out all three batters she faced in a perfect inning.

Peters finished the game with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two without issuing a walk.