Lisbon softball got to experience a playoff game in May, and finished the first week 5-1.

The loss came Saturday, May 30, at Louisa-Muscatine, the No. 1 team in 2A. No. 13 Lisbon lost 7-6 in nine innings on a walk-off home run.

“We were ahead through the fifth inning, and got a little nervous defensively,” Lisbon coach Abbey Shultz said. “We could’ve won that game.”

The Lions had 11 hits, led by Alexis Jensen, who was 3-for-5. She had a double, as did Shea Benhart and Brynnley Patterson.

Earlier that day, Lisbon beat Mediapolis 13-5. Benhart had three hits and Jensen and Kyla Kahl each had two hits.

Going 5-1 was a good start.

“I was very proud of how they played,” Shultz said. “They are really buying in that they can do it.”

The season started Tuesday, May 26, with a doubleheader road sweep of North Cedar, 16-0 and 12-0, both in four innings.

Kyla Kahl pitched a no-hitter with six strikeouts in the first game and Emma Pleasant pitched a no-hitter in the second game with nine strikeouts.

In the first game, Alexis Jensen had a triple and a home run. Kamryn Kahl had a single and a triple. Eighth-grader Ayla Blanchard had two hits in her first varsity game.

In the second game, Jensen, Benhart, Kamryn Kahl, Alexas Roos and Techau had doubles.

On Thursday, May 28, the Lions swept two from Springville in Lisbon, 8-2 and 8-0. With Kyla Kahl at state golf, Emma Pleasant pitched a 2-hitter in the first game, and Sydney Techau pitched a 3-hitter in the second game.

“We have a unique and diverse pitching staff,” Shultz said. “They have grown into their own.”

In the first game, Lisbon had 19 hits. Benhart led with a home run. Jensen had a double and three RBIs. Patterson hit 2-for-3 with two RBI.

In the second game, Kamryn Kahl had two triples. Jensen also had a triple.

“They have hit the ball well,” Shultz said. “We don’t love slow pitching, but they took it in stride. They feed off each other.”