OTTUMWA — It took roughly 552 hours — or 23 days — but the Ottumwa softball team finally completed a 16-inning marathon win over Des Moines Roosevelt on Wednesday.

Finishing the game that started in Des Moines on June 9, the Bulldogs exploded for six runs in the top of the 16th inning for the win. Ottumwa followed the victory with a 3-2 win, before the second game of the regularly-scheduled doubleheader was rained out after one inning.

The two wins improve Ottumwa’s record to 15-22 overall and 7-10 in the CIML Metro. The Bulldogs have won six of their last eight games.

“There’s nothing like some wins to rejuvenate your thoughts about what you can do in the tournament,” Ottumwa coach Frank Huston said. “That’s what we have to hang our hat on this year.”

More than three weeks ago, the Bulldogs and Roughriders traded zeros like baseball cards all the way into the 15th inning. Both sides agreed to suspend the game because of darkness and resume it on Wednesday in Ottumwa.

The Roughriders may be rethinking the decision.

Liz Cason started the 16th frame with a leadoff single to left. Lindsey Evans reached base when Roosevelt pitcher Laura Ramsey threw the ball into right field on her sacrifice bunt, putting runners at second and third with no outs.

Whitney Reber knocked in the first run of the game with a deep sacrifice fly that the Roughrider center fielder couldn’t handle. The Bulldogs started to swing a confident bat with the lead.

Courtney Heller doubled to make it 3-0. McKenzie Cason’s squib hit behind first scored another run. Tricia Bix laced a two-run double to the right field wall and suddenly Ottumwa held an insurmountable 6-0 lead.

Bulldog pitcher Courtney Wagner surrendered only five hits in 14 innings before the game was suspended on June 9. The freshman kept firing Wednesday, setting down the side in order in the bottom of the 16th for the win.

“Courtney was pretty good, so we just let her go,” Huston said.

Wagner kept on dealing in the first game of the regularly-scheduled doubleheader. After giving up one run and throwing 28 pitches in the first inning, Wagner was a model of efficiency.

Wagner set down 11 straight batters at one point in the game and threw only 14 pitches combined in the third and fourth innings. She finished with 101 pitches and fanned three batters to earn her second win of the night.

The Bulldogs came up with just enough offense against Roosevelt starter Marli Jefferson. Ottumwa scored all three of its runs in the second inning.

Paige Schreiner led off the frame with a single behind shortstop and later scored on a wild pitch by Jefferson to knot the score 1-1. Courtney Klyn gave the Bulldogs the lead when she raced home on a double steal.