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Iowa Central sweeps home softball debut

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Sonya McCormick leaps to make a catch for Iowa Central against Ellsworth on Tuesday afternoon at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Rick Sandquist has been around the game of softball long enough to know better than taking anything for granted.

After posting a convincing 10-2 win in five innings over Ellsworth here Tuesday at Rogers Park, No. 17 Iowa Central was put to the test in the second contest.

Down 10-7, the Tritons rallied with two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to complete the sweep in their home opener.

“This was a mental-check and a gut-check for the girls,” Sandquist said. “Baseball and softball are such crazy sports. There is no clock, so you can’t try to play it out through that. You have to make three outs an inning and get the job done.

“Ellsworth came back against us, but our girls battled and showed their fight.”

Following a seven-run sixth for the Panthers (6-16, 0-6), the Tritons responded with two outs in the bottom half of the inning when Kama Kaeo blasted a two-run homer.

After Paige Siewert made quick work of Ellsworth in the seventh, Iowa Central again plated two runs with two outs when Jessa May found an opening in the outfield for an 11-10 victory.

“(The Panthers) didn’t want to pitch to Kama in the seventh,” Sandquist said. “But Jessa has been swinging a good bat and she made them pay with a big first-pitch hit.

“It was great to see our girls rally with their backs against the wall, but we also have to get better at holding leads late.”

Kaeo finished the doubleheader 4-for-6 with two homers, eight RBI, four runs scored and a steal. Ashley Hahnbaum and Maddie Wagner each hit home runs, as well.

Sonya McCormick was 5-for-8 with four runs, a pair of RBI and two steals, May finished with three hits, two runs and two driven in, while Maddie Wagner and Kennedy Newell each had four hits. Molly Matthes scored three runs.

“Our lineup was tough with two outs all day,” Sandquist said. “Sonya had some big hits, Alexis got on and we had production up and down.”

May also earned a win in the circle, firing a three-hitter with six strikeouts. Siewert picked up the other victory, facing four batters and throwing all nine of her pitches for strikes.

Iowa Central finished with 21 runs scored, 28 hits, five homers and stole six bases.

For Ellsworth, Abby Young was 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs in the second game. Brooke Myers had a three-run homer as part of the seven-run inning.

The Tritons will remain at home the rest of this week, hosting Indian Hills Thursday and Northeast Nebraska on Saturday.

“After 30 games on the road to open the season, it was nice to be at home,” Sandquist said. “We’ll get to be here all week, which I know the girls are excited about.”

IOWA CENTRAL 10, ELLSWORTH 2 (5 inn.)

Ellsworth 010 01 — 2 3 1

Iowa Central 161 11 — 10 15 2

Jessa May (W, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB) and Molly Matthes; Kayla Brady (L, 4+ IP, 15 H, 9 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) and Jamie Johnson.

HR–ICCC: Ashley Hahnbaum, Maddie Wagner. 2B–E: Jamie Johnson. SB–ICCC: Kama Kaeo, Sonya McCormick (2). LOB–E: 4, ICCC: 6.

IOWA CENTRAL 11, ELLSWORTH 10

Ellsworth 200 017 0 — 10 9 4

Iowa Central 304 002 2 — 11 13 1

Lexi Binder (5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 8 K, 5 BB), Cassie Tjebben (0 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 0 K, 1 BB), Paige Siewert (W, 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) and Sonya McCormick; Bradi Yost (L, 6 2/3 IP, 13 H, 8 ER, 3 K, 4 BB) and Jamie Johnson.

HR–E: Brooke Myers; ICCC: Kama Kaeo (2), Ashley Hahnbaum. 2B–E: Bradi Yost, Abby Young (2), Rebecca Harms; ICCC: Sonya McCormick, Maddie Wagner, Jessa May. SB–E: Kaylee Rynish, Abby Young (2); ICCC: Maddie Wagner, Kennedy Newell, Alexis Egan. LOB–E: 6, ICCC: 9.

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