Hot Bats Lead to Series Sweep
The RedTails traveled to Columbus, Nebraska to take on conference opponent Central Community College, Columbus. The RedTails first completed their haulted game from Friday, April 3rd. The game was called due to weather in the bottom of the fourth, tied 4-4. The RedTails finished the three and a half innings, winning the game 7-5. Then the teams finished their double header. The RedTails won both, winning game one 12-1 in six innings and winning game two 9-4.
Game One: 7 (HCC), 5 (CCC)
April 3rd
This game started in Independence, Iowa on April 3rd. The RedTails started on top, scoring in the first inning. Mackenzie Bridgewater started with a walk and scored on an Isabelle Kriegel double. Jordan Trueblood and Alyvia Anderson each followed up with their own singles, allowing Kriegel to cross home plate, giving the RedTails a 2-0 lead.
The Raiders responded in the top of the second, scoring one run on two walks, a RedTail error, and sacrifice fly.
The RedTails fought for one more run in the second, scoring on an Emilee Bergmann single, who then stole two bases, and went home after a wild pitch was thrown.
Central bounced back quickly to take the lead in the third. A double, two singles, a RedTail error, and a triple allowed two runs to cross home, giving the Raiders a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jordan Eads led off with a single and advanced to third on a single from Bergmann. Kriegel hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Eads, tying the game. The game was quickly hauled due to weather and postponed to a later date.
April 11th
The game picked up on April 11th on Central's home field. With runners on, Mya Chamberlin hit a double to score one run, giving the RedTails a 5-4 lead. Ellie Lorenz then put the ball in play to score Kriegel, giving the RedTails a two run-lead.
Central put up one run in the fifth, scoring on two hits.
In the bottom of the sixth, Kriegel doubled and scored on a Chamberlin single, making the score 7-5 in favor of Hawkeye. A three up three down seventh inning gave the RedTails the win.
At the plate, Kriegel led the way, going 2-3 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Chamberlin and Bergmann each added two hits. Lillian McCarty got the win, going four innings, giving up four hits, four runs, zero earned, two walks, and three strikeouts. Chamberlin came in for the save, going three innings, giving up just two hits, one earned run, and four strikeouts.
Game Two: 12 (HCC), 1 (CCC)
The RedTails jumped out to an early lead. Bridgewater reached base on an error and moved to second base. Kriegel walked, and Lorenz hit a double to score Bridgewater. Alyvia Anderson hit a single to score two runs, giving the RedTails an early 3-0 lead.
The Raiders scored their only run in the game in the bottom of the first on a solo homerun.
It was a close 3-1 game until the fifth inning, when the RedTails took the reins and started to score. Lorenz walked and moved to second on another Anderson single. Trueblood walked to load the bases, and Bergmann hit a single to score one run. Eads hit a sacrifice fly to give Hawkeye a 5-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Bridgewater hit a single to start the inning. Kriegel walked, and Chamberlin hit a three-run homerun, giving the RedTails an 8-1 advantage. Delaney Eickert hit a single and moved to second on another Bergmann single. An Eads double scored Eickert, and a Rylie Devlin double scored Bergmann. Bridgewater hit a triple to score one more RedTail, putting the score at 12-1, out of reach for the Raiders.
A three up, three down defensive inning shut down the Raider offense, ending the game early in favor of the RedTails.
Bridgewater led the way at the plate, going 3-5 with two runs scored, one run batted in, and one stolen base.Chamberlin, Anderson, Bergmann, and Eads each added multi-hits. On the mound, Chamberlin got the win, going five innings, giving up four hits, one earned run, two walks, and eight strikeouts. Adelyn Sienknecht closed it out, going one inning, giving up no hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout.
Game Three: 9 (HCC), 4 (CCC)
The RedTails took the field for the third and final game on the day. They jumped out on top early again in game three. Bridgewater walked, stole second, advanced to third, and crossed home on a wild pitch. Eickert hit a homerun to give the RedTails a 2-0 lead.
Central responded in the bottom of the second with a solo homerun themselves.
In the top of the third, Bridgewater continued her hot streak, getting another single. She stole second and scored on a Chamberlin single.
The RedTails added two more runs in the fourth. Eads walked and stole second. She then advanced to third on a Devlin single. Bridgewater singled to load the bases. Kriegel drew a walk to score one, and Chamberlin put the ball in play to score another, making it a 5-1 ballgame.
The Raiders scored two runs in the fourth, starting with a leadoff triple and homerun, but were shut down by three strikeouts in a row right after.
Up 5-3, Hawkeye wanted more runs on the board. IN the fifth, Hailey Harbour hit a double and scored on a Bergmann double. Eads then singled and Devlin put the ball in play to score Bergmann. Back-to-back walks put Chamberlin back up to the plate. She hit a sacrifice fly to score one, and Eickert put the ball in play to score another RedTail, making it a 9-3 game.
Columbus put up their final run in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on a solo homerun.
The rest of the game was quiet, and the RedTail defense shut down any Raider threat, giving them the 9-4 win, and the sweep of the series.
Bridgewater led at the plate, going 3-3 with three runs scored, two walks, and three stolen bases. Six other RedTails tallied hits in the game. On the mound, McCarty got the win, going six innings, giving up six hits, four earned runs, and eleven strikeouts. Kyra Ballard closed out the game, going one inning, giving up no hits, no runs, and one walk.
The RedTails travel to Norfolk, Nebraska to take on Northeast Community College on April 12th. Game time is set for 1:00 and 3:00 PM.