Smith leads IWC to doubleheader split with Hannibal-LaGrange

HANNIBAL, Mo. ? Cari Smith recorded five hits in two games including four doubles and the Iowa Wesleyan College softball team split a doubleheader against Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) University Saturday afternoon in non-conference play.

Smith had two doubles in the first game as IWC defeated the Trojans 4-1. The Tiger catcher also added two more doubles in the second, but Hannibal-LaGrange came back with three runs in the sixth inning for a 6-4 win to drop Wesleyan to 4-15 overall on the season.

The Tigers scored twice in the first inning of the first game as Smith hit an RBI double to score Tory Beaver and Sierrah Garcia reached on an error allowing Smith to cross the plate. IWC added two more in the seventh as Kristine Becks led off with a triple, Jill Ginder singled Becks home and Smith hit a two-out double to score Ginder.

Garcia went the whole way in the opener allowing just five hits and a single run in the bottom of the first inning. Garcia struck out five and walked none to pick up her third win of the season and lower her earned run average to 2.97 in 11 appearances, including ten games started. Becks and Ginder joined Smith with two hits apiece in the first game for Iowa Wesleyan.

Wesleyan scored early again in the second game, tallying twice in the first inning. Smith doubled with one out and moved to third on a single by Garcia before scoring on a single by Ayla Serrano. Garcia would come around to then come around to score as Sarah McCleary drove her in while reaching on an error for a 2-0 lead.

HLG came back with three runs in the bottom of the first off Serrano, but the Tigers added single runs in the second and third innings as Beaver scored on an outfield error after a single by Smith and McCleary drove in Serrano in the third after reaching again on an error. IWC held that 4-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but the Trojans (7-17 overall) scored three times after two were out to come from behind to win.

Smith had three hits and Serrano added two in the second game. Serrano took the loss in the circle, pitching a complete game and allowing 15 hits while striking out three and walking three.

The Tigers open the home portion of their schedule as well as Midwest Collegiate Conference play on Friday with a doubleheader against Grand View University at 2 p.m. at the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.