IMS dropped two hard-fought South East Iowa Super Conference Northern Division road softball games early last week.

They fell to Pekin 4-1 last Monday and 8-4 to Winfield-Mount Union last Tuesday.

Katie Hochstedler plated IMS’ only run in the Pekin loss with an RBI single in the sixth.

“Betsy did a nice job keeping Pekin off balance,” coach Ron Swartzendruber said. “We had a tough time hitting their pitcher, though.”

Winfield jumped out to a 4-0 lead against IMS enroute to their win.

“(Winfield) did hit the ball well, but we had too many errors in that game,” Swartzendruber said. “We got down with their four runs in the first and could never quite get close enough.”

In junior varsity play, IMS tied Pekin 10-10 after the Panthers scored four runs in the final inning. They also dropped an 8-4 decision to Winfield after going into the fifth inning with a 3-3 tie.

IMS was aslo swept in a junior varsity-varsity doubleheader with Waco. Results from a doubleheader with Danville this past Friday and the Danville tournament Saturday were unavailable at press time.