An ill wind, not to mention a chilly one, brought no good Thursday for Polk County’s softball squad.

Owen took advantage of 12 Polk County walks Thursday to hand the Wolverines an 11-1 setback in a Western Highlands Conference softball battle at Polk.

The Warhorses (2-0, 1-0) delivered a familiar ending, defeating Polk (1-1, 1-1) for the sixth straight meeting thanks in large part to pitcher Jaiden Tweed. The senior and Presbyterian signee held the Wolverines to four hits while striking out eight.

Owen pushed across a pair of runs in the first inning, then added three more in the second. The Warhorses put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth, putting together seven walks and two hits to tally six runs.

Polk County finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as a Haley Fowler single and Owen error with two outs set the stage for Autumn Owen’s base hit to drive home pinch runner Amy Chupp.

Tweed then got the final out to end the game.

Fowler, Owen, Karli Wood and Alana Jergensen had Polk County’s four hits. Destiney Kraber finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Owen.

The Wolverines used three pitchers in the game, with starter Haley Fowler leaving after two innings due to an injury. Anna McFadden and Emily Prince closed out the game.

Polk County returns to action Friday, hosting Mitchell at 4 p.m. in a game originally set for Mitchell but moved to Polk.

– Submitted by PolkSports.com