GMG pitcher Adelyn Sienknecht delivers to the plate during the first inning of the June 13 Iowa Star Conference softball game in Green Mountain. Sienknecht struck out three in a four-hitter to help the Wolverines defeat Dunkerton 13-1 in four innings. –Photo by Noah Rohlfing

As temperatures skyrocketed into the mid-90s on the afternoon of Monday, June 13, GMG softball’s bats turned up the heat on Dunkerton.

A four-run first inning and a six-run fourth inning bookended a 13-1 victory for the Wolverines, who improved to 4-5 on the season with the win. Dunkerton is now 1-9 on the season.

After starting pitcher Adelyn Sienknecht threw a shutout in the top of the first inning, the Wolverines scored two runs via passed balls and added two more runs to take a commanding lead early in the action.

GMG head coach Randy Sienknecht emphasized the importance of that early aggressiveness.

“Our girls were really aggressive with the bats today, with the baserunning,” Randy said. “It’s what I’ve been telling them we can do the whole season, hopefully they continue with it.

“We’ve been preaching it all year that it’s a team effort.”

Entering the day with just one double on the season, the Wolverines hit three against the Raiders and racked up 11 total hits — with Adelyn leading the way and going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. She also scored two runs. She was one of four Wolverines with two or more hits, as Lilly Harris, Sydni Gale and Maecyn Lewis recorded two apiece. Lewis had a double and scored twice, while Gale also crossed home twice.

Jenna Yilek added a double and Sydney Dannen added a single. GMG also had batters reach base with walks six times.

Those four first-inning runs were combined with two in the second and one in the third to build a 7-0 advantage.

The top of the fourth was Dunkerton’s only real positive frame at the plate. Capitalizing on an error in the outfield and scoring a run to cut the deficit to six runs, it felt like something big was going to have to happen for the game to end before the start of the fifth inning.

Adelyn Sienknecht put in four innings of work on the mound and struck out three batters while giving up one run (zero earned) and four hits.

Randy said the defense had a strong game and did a good job of keeping things in front and supporting the pitcher.

“Our defense looked really good,” Randy said. “Adelyn was spot on, she was as good as she’s been all year. She just keeps getting better.

“We’ve got a long season ahead of us, so hopefully we can continue that. We got Abby Parks coming in and looking good as a pitcher too, so we’re sitting good.”

Six runs crossed the plate for GMG in the bottom of the fourth inning — with Olivia Maddox, Aubree Runner, Kennedi Sederberg, Harris, Gale and Lewis all crossing home — with a hit from Adelyn driving in the game-winning runs.