Harris-Stowe no problem for IW softball

ST. LOUIS, Mo — The Iowa Wesleyan softball team put together a complete performance on Saturday in a doubleheader against the Harris-Stowe State Hornets.

It was a commanding day for the Tigers as they won by over 10 runs in each of the two clashes with the Hornets, winning 28-8 in game one and 16-2 in game two.

The first of the two games was nearly over before it started.

Iowa Wesleyan built a five-run lead early in the first inning and never looked back. The Tigers Kara Krieger was the first to cross the plate. Krieger scored on a throw to second, during an Alexis Davis steal. A Ivy Geerdes triple brought Davis across home plate. Geerdes would then be brought home on a walk with the bases loaded. With two wild pitches at the plate Jodie Penman and Ariana Wolfard were able to score.

The first inning was just the beginning of the onslaught, as in the second inning the Tigers were scorching hot at the plate, surging with a 15 run inning to increase their lead to 20-0. Penman picked up her game high four RBI’s in the second with an RBI double down the line early in the inning and a three-run home run during her second at-bat.

In the third and fourth innings, Iowa Wesleyan added another eight runs. The Hornets also added eight runs of their own, but the Tigers lead was too large to overcome.

The second game was evenly match at the start, but the Tigers were quick to open the flood gates once again.

After one inning, the two teams were tied at 1-1. Iowa Wesleyan then flipped the switch scoring nine runs in the next two inning, three in the second and six in the third.

Nicole Shirrell scored the first run of the second off an Kylie Topliff single. Emilee Rooney then sent a ball toward the Hornets shortstop, but an error was committed and both Topliff and Jordan Morthland were able to score.

In the third, Morthland got a Tigers started with a two RBI single to center, scoring Penman and Geerdes. Krieger then followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Shirrell. Rooney was then walked, allowing Morthland to cross home. The Tigers ended the third with two RBI’s coming from a Davis single and sacrifice fly from Geerdes.

With a 10-1 run lead heading into the fourth, all the Tigers had to do was hang on. They did just that and more.

Iowa Wesleyan went scoreless in the fourth, but matched it third inning performance with another six run spurt in the fifth, all while holding Harris-Stowe to just one run.

The Tigers will be back in action on Wednesday, March 23 in another doubleheader, this time taking on Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Missouri. The first of the two games is set to start at 2 p.m.