CHARLES CITY - The Cedar Falls softball team climbed out of a big hole Wednesday to score a 12-9 victory at Charles City.

Trailing 9-0 after the Comets exploded for nine runs in the third inning, the Tigers scored in every subsequent inning, while getting shutout pitching the rest of the way from Makenze Mobley and Shyann Beach.

"I know we're good at coming back, but nine runs is a big lead," said Tiger coach Tammy Utley. "This was the best (comeback) I've seen with our team."

After the Tigers plated four runs to cut the lead to 9-4, Lauren Smith launched a three-run home run, her fourth of the season, to make in 9-7. Cedar Falls added two more runs in the fifth, another to take the lead in the sixth and a pair for padding in the seventh.

Smith, Jillian Zaputil and Beach all had three hits for the Tigers, who banged out 16 hits while improving to 14-12. Heather Berns went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in for the Comets.

Cedar Falls 000 451 2 - 12 16 1

Charles City 009 000 0 - 9 14 3

Sonja Przybylski, Makenze Mobley (3), Shyann Beach (5) and Lauren Smith; Leah Gelner and Meredith Worrall. WP - Beach; LP - Gelner.

HR - Lauren Smith (CF). 3B - Jillian Zaputil (CF). 2B - Zaputil. Multiple hits - CF: Smith 3, Zaputil 3, Beach 3, Megan Kleitsch 2, Cari Collins 2, Paige Miller 2; CC: Heather Berns 3, Worrall 2, Abby Lasher 2.

Solon handcuffs Columbus girls

WATERLOO - Traditional powerhouse Solon executed in all phases of the game to deal Waterloo Columbus a 7-0 softball defeat Wednesday.

The Spartans banged out 11 base hits, committed just one error and got two-hit pitching for a comfortable victory. Carolyne Schlichte and Katie Horan had base hits for the Sailors.

Solon 000 502 0 - 7 11 1

Columbus 000 000 0 - 0 2 1

Purdy and Stewart; Peterson and Schlichte.

Cyclones make most of chances

DENVER - NU High rapped out eight base hits, but Denver got considerably more mileage from its seven knocks as the Cyclones downed the Panthers, 11-1, in a six-inning North Iowa Cedar League softball game Tuesday.

Jenna Jessen had three hits for Denver while Nicole Lopez, Taryn Moyer and Maddie Backstrom each produced a pair of hits for NU High.

NU High 000 010 - 1 8 2

Denver 013 052 - 11 7 1

Bailey Carlisle and Meagan Schneider; Jenna Jessen and Whitney Matlack.