Bark River-Harris sophomore Taylor Klee swings at a pitch against Forest Park on May 6, 2025 at Bark River Sports Complex. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

BARK RIVER — There were flashes of improvement for Bark River-Harris softball team as it rebounded from a 20-4 defeat against Forest Park in game one and fell 20-10 in game two.

The Broncos trailed 14-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning of game two. The Broncos responded with nine runs to cut the deficit to 14-10. With the bases loaded, Kaet Erickson hit a bases loaded triple then scored on an error to cut the deficit to 14-5.

“It felt great,” Erickson said. “The team was getting excited in the dugout and I could feel the atmosphere change and that was big for us.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Ellie Stemick and Kaiya Davis each scored on passed balls to cut the deficit to 14-7. Erickson hit a fly ball and fetched on an error allowing three more runs to score cutting the deficit 14-10.

“We went from being on the verge of getting mercied to being right back in the game,” Broncos coach Rob Arnt said. “We scored nine runs in two innings and it was fantastic for our girls to come back and do that.”

The Trojans responded with six runs in the top of the seventh inning, highlighted by an RBI double by Jessie Loehr who had seven RBIs over the two games.

“We struggled a little on the infield but we did a good job at the plate.” Loehr said. “We came into the game looking to get hits into the outfield and we did that well tonight.”

In the first game, the Trojans jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first inning after Loehr singled to score a run. Tessa Bartoszek scored after tagging up and Kaidince Woollard drew a walk to score a run.

The Trojans added eight runs on three hits in the top of the third inning including a two-run double by Loehr.

“I feel like we played a complete game in game one,” Trojans’ coach Kimberly Pekarek said. “We kind of lost it in the second game, not sure where our minds were at but we held on and that was big for us.”

Woollard got the win for the Trojans allowing four runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks.