Greene County softball was a 7-5 non-conference winner over Southeast Valley (Gowrie) in Jefferson on Tuesday night. The Rams improved to 11-12 while the Jaguars fell to 13-9 by building a pair of five run leads, then holding on for the victory.

A five run first inning carried the Rams to a 5-0 lead, which stood until SEV scored twice in the sixth, but the Rams answered with two of their own in the bottom of the frame. SEV scored three times in the seventh and the game ended on Emma Hoyle’s tenth strikeout, of the contest, number 206 this season, which came with the bases loaded. Hoyle walked six, three in the final frame, allowed six hits and hit two batters with pitches.

The first eight Rams in the batting order had a least one hit and Hoyle’s fourth inning double was the only extra base hit. Chanlyn Cunningham and Paige Teeples each singled twice and drove in a run, while Emma Stream had a run scoring single. Danielle Madson had a base hit in her first varsity at-bat this season, and Alexa Peters and Olivia Shannon added singles. Carmyn Paup singled twice and drove in a run on Senior Night. Paup, a Paton-Churdan graduate, is the lone senior on the team.

Greene County closes the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference and regular seasons at home tonight at the City Diamond on E. Lincolnway vs. Nevada. The Rams are then off until they meet SEV again, this time on July 6 in Harcourt at 7 p.m. in the opening round of Class 3A Region 2 play.