Bo Tjebben knew once the Iowa Central softball team hit conference play, the schedule would ramp up and the competition only get tougher.

That’s exactly what the Tritons (17-3 overall) saw in their ICCAC opener against 16th-rated NIACC on Thursday.

The Tritons answered the bell, sweeping the twinbill at Rogers Park.

Scores were 2-1 and 8-0 in favor of Tjebben’s red-hot squad.

Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Cadence Touney had a strong day at the plate, with a double, a home run and six RBI.

“I’ve told the girls, once we start conference play don’t get too high or get too low,” Tjebben said. “Our league is the best in the nation. We will see that over and over again.”

In the opener, the Tritons scored two early runs and held on thanks to an outstanding pitching performance from Jillian French.

French threw seven innings, allowing four hits and only one run. She struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone.

“French looked really good,” Tjebben said. “We got some timely hits, and softball is a game of inches.

“Our energy was out of this world, and the girls went out their and executed on the field.”

The Tritons had five hits in game one, with Jersey Hawf recording a pair. Hawf also drove in a run with a double.

Touney added an RBI. Natalie Rasmussen recorded a triple for Iowa Central.

Jaidan Abel tossed a five-inning one-hitter in a lopsided nightcap with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Tritons ripped three homers in the contest to go along with two doubles. Touney drove in five with her breakout.

Rasmussen and Hawf contributed two hits each. Jozie Kerr and Josephine Moore went deep. Kerr drove in two runs.

“Winning 8-0 and getting three home runs definitely helps to take the stress off,” Tjebben said. “I know how good NIACC is and I’m pretty good friends with their coach. They swing the living daylights out of the bat.

“In the second game, we had some big hits and Abel did a phenomenal job.”

The Tritons are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Norfolk, Neb. to face Northeast.