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HOME RUN QUEEN

—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Iowa central’s cheyenne andersen, (top photo) shown here, went 4-for-4 with four home runs and eight RBI on Friday. Andersen (bottom photo) attempts to swing at Rogers Park recently. On Friday she became the single-season and career home run leader with 18 and 33 respectively.

NORFOLK, Neb. — Once Cheyenne Andersen started closing in on Iowa Central’s home run records, she admitted she hit a rut.

Andersen went through a 3-for-17 slump in the past five games, and that ended in a big way Friday as the ninth-ranked Tritons (28-9 overall, 9-5 ICCAC) swept Northeast (2-32, 0-14) 19-3 and 14-0.

“I was really feeling the pressure lately and had been in a slump for a couple of days,” Andersen said. “But now I’m feeling like myself again and ready to move on.”

After going 1-for-4 in the opener of a doubleheader against Northeast Friday afternoon, the Triton sophomore exploded for four home runs. She was 4-for-4 with two three run and two solo home runs, while driving in eight runs and scoring five.

“Cheyenne had been pressing since she came close to the record,” said Iowa Central head coach Rick Sandquist. “She had a slump, but she broke out of that.

“Overall, she has had a really good year. The whole team and staff is proud of her.”

Andersen is now the single-season leader with 18 home runs and the career leader with 33 longballs.

“Hitting homeruns is fun and all, but the fun games are when everyone is in it all at the same time and everyone is fighting with all they got,” Andersen said. “I had a lot of fun (today), but there has definitely been other games that have topped this.

“Breaking the record felt amazing. I never thought I would be where I am today and now that I have officially broken the record, I couldn’t be more happy.”

Andersen wasn’t the only one with a big day at the plate, as the Tritons blasted eight home runs on the day.

In the first game, Jenna Peschel had two home runs, while Fort Dodge graduate Bre Tjebben and Sophia Cave hit won each.

Tjebben was 2-for-3 with five RBI in the contest. Peschel had two hits and three RBI. Cave also had two hits and three RBI.

Breanna Small picked up the victory, going four innings. Webster City graduate Erin Bahrenfuss pitched an inning. The two combined for a two-hitter.

In the nightcap, Gabrielle Bingham had three hits, while Parker Mathews and Cave had two hits each. Mathews, Cave, Tjebben and Alex Boyce all had doubles.

Lauren James drove in three runs, while Mathews and Cave had two each.

McKenzie Capesius went three innings, not allowing a hit to pick up the win, while striking out five. The Tritons gave up four hits in the contest.

“We had a big day,” Sandquist said. “We had eight homeruns on the day, as Jenna hit two, Bre and Sophie had one each.

“Now we have to get ready for No. 4 DMACC.”

Iowa Central is back in action today when they host fourth-ranked and ICCAC leader DMACC (32-5, 15-1). Action begins at 1 p.m. at Rogers Park.

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