Hawkeye Bats Explode for 18 Runs in Split with Iowa Lakes
The Hawkeye RedTail Softball Team traveled to Iowa Lakes Community College to face the Lakers in a conference doubleheader on April 8th. The RedTails split, winning game one 18-5 in five innings, and losing game two 5-2.
Game 1: 18 (HCC), 5 (ILCC)
The RedTails started out hot in the bottom of the first. Caydance Sharp led off with a walk and quickly scored from a Lizzy Hamand homerun. Dharma Woodruff followed with a single, Chardonnay Hubert walked, and Courtney Hemsley walked, but the RedTails couldn't score any more in the inning, giving them the 2-0 lead.
Iowa Lakes answered with one run of their own in the bottom of the first, scoring off of a single, a stolen base, and another single.
Hawkeye then broke open the scoring in the top of the second. Savannah Ringheden led the inning off with a homerun, and Kisha Reed followed with a walk. Sharp reached on a Laker error. With runners on second and third, Hamand hit a sacrifice fly to score Reed. Woodruff hit her second single of the day, scoring Sharp. Hubert hit a double to have a threat at second and third. Woodruff scored on a passed ball and Kylie Collins reached first base. Collins stole second and drew the throw, allowing Hubert to score. Courtney Hemsley then singled to score Collins. A single by Schafer put runners in scoring position, but the Lakers got out of the threat.
The RedTails were up 8-1 going into the top of the third and found ways to score four more runs. Sharp led off with a walk, and Hamand hit her second homerun of the day. Woodruff hit a triple, and Hubert singled to score Woodruff. Collins hit a single to bring Hubert across home plate to finish out the inning.
The Lakers responded with one more run to bring the score 12-2.
Not to be outdone, Reed hit a homerun to lead off in the top of the fourth, giving the RedTails a 13-2 lead.
Iowa Lakes scored in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a two run homerun and a solo homerun.
The RedTails found some insurance runs in the top of the fifth to secure the win. Collins walked and advanced to second from a hit from Hemsley. Ringheden hit in Collins from a single. Reed got a base hit to load the bases, bringing up Hamand, who found her third homerun of the game, and program first ever grand slam, to bring the score to 18-5 in favor of the RedTails.
A three up three down inning ended the game in five innings.
Hamand led at the plate, going 3-4 with three homeruns, nine runs batted in, and three runs scored. Woodruff was 4-5 with one run batted in and two runs scored. Each RedTail in the lineup had at least one hit, and five RedTails had a multi-hit game. Sidney Schafer got the win on the mound, pitching five innings, giving up six hits, five earned runs, and four strikeouts.
Game 2: 2 (HCC), 5 (ILCC)
Hawkeye struck first again in the top of the first inning scoring a Reed single and Hamand double, giving the RedTails a quick 1-0 lead.
The Lakers responded in the bottom of the first, scoring on a single, sacrifice fly, and homerun.
Iowa Lakes scored one more run to go up 3-1 in the bottom of the second.
One more run for the Lakers crossed in the bottom of the fourth, giving the 4-1 advantage to Iowa Lakes.
The RedTails saw some life in the top of the fifth with two outs. Sharp reached base on an error and advanced to second. Hamand followed with a walk. Woodruff then doubled to score Sharp, putting Hawkeye within two runs.
The Lakers scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. They did so on a single, stolen base, and sacrifice fly.
The RedTails were led by Woodruff at the plate who was 3-3 and had one run batted in. Hamand was 2-3 with one run batted in. Woodruff took the loss in the mound, giving up six hits, five earned runs, one walk, and one strikeout.
Hawkeye moves to 5-21 on the season and 1-9 in conference play. The RedTails are back at home this Wednesday, April 10th at 2:00 and 4:00 against Kirkwood Community College.