MASON CITY, Iowa – NIACC softball dropped to 6-8 overall and 0-4 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference after losing two games to No. 14 Kirkwood 21-3 and 13-5 on Sunday afternoon.
Kirkwood scored all 21 runs of game one in the first three innings. Shortstop Kayla Tagte had four homeruns and eight RBI in game one to lead an offensive barrage against the Trojans. The Eagles had 10 homeruns in the two games combined, with Tatge recording five of them. All of Kirkwood’s starters had at least two hits, and four had at least three RBI.
NIACC’s game one offense came mostly from Hailey Eckstein (Fr., Larsen, WI), who had a two-run homer in the first inning. Lisa Jorgensen scored in the fifth off an error that allowed Krista Grutz (Fr., Dubuque, IA) to get on base.
NIACC’s offense struggled everywhere else, as Kirkwood pitcher Catie Flaucher struck out nine Trojans.
NIACC looked much better in game two, especially on defense. The Trojans caught Kirkwood’s leadoff batter Nicole Fisher stealing home in the first inning. Fisher attempted the steal when NIACC attempted to throw out an Eagle trying to steal second base. Second baseman Shelby Ward (Fr., Rockwell, IA) cut off the throw and threw it back to catcher Cassie Pappas (Fr., Mason City, IA), who applied the tag at the plate.
Ward later saved a run in the second by throwing out Alene Carter from her knees after making diving to stop. The play was the third out of the inning, prevented Kristen Winter from scoring form third and kept the game at 1-0.
A seven run third by the Eagles knocked down the Trojans. Winter hit a three run blast and Fisher hit a two out double to bring in two more Eagles. Kirkwood added another pair in the top of the fourth.
NIACC batted around the order and scored five runs in bottom of the fourth. Caley Johnson (Fr., Rockford, IA) drove in Courtney Stephens (Fr., LeGrand, IA) for NIACC’s first run after Tatge mishandled a grounder. Beth Mildenhall (Fr., Eldora, IA) brought Anne Studer (Fr., Titonka, IA) in during the next at bat to make it 10-2.
A triple by Grutz drove in Stephens and Mildenhall, and Grutz scored during a groundout by Pappas to make it 10-5. The Eagles responded with three runs and struck out the Trojan side of the fifth to invoke the mercy rule.
NIACC will travel to Estherville to play a doubleheader against Iowa Lakes on Wednesday. Game one starts at 3:30 p.m.
GAME ONE
Kirkwood 6(10)5 00 – 21 25 1
NIACC 200 01 – 3 2 3
W- Catie Flaucher
L – Jessica Robinett, 4-3
KCC Stats
Flaucher (9 K, 1 BB, 1 HBP) and Shelby Crist.
2B – Tatge, Fisher, Nelson, Carter,
HR – Tatge 4, Krack, Nelson
Multiple hits – Kayla Tatge 5, Crist 3, Nelson 3, Winter 3, Lowe 3, Fisher 2, Krack 2, Fishback 2, Carter 2
Multiple RBI – Tatge 8, Winter 3, Fishback 3, Carter 3, Fisher 2, Krack 2,
NIACC
Robinett (1 HBP) and Cassie Pappas.
HR – Hailey Eckstein
Multiple RBI – Eckstein 2
GAME TWO
Kirkwood 017 23 – 12 12 2
NIACC 000 50 – 5 9 0
W- Kelsie Campbell
L – Eckstein, 2-5
KCC Stats
Campell (3.2 innings, 2 K, 3 BB), Flaucher (1.1 innings, 4 K) and Crist.
2B – Winter, Krack, Fisher, Cari Collins.
HR – Fisher, Winter, Nelson, Tatge.
Multiple Hits – Fisher 3, Crist 2, Tatge 2, Winter 2.
Multiple RBI – Fisher 4, Tatge 3, Winter 3.
NIACC stats
Eckstein (8 BB) and Pappas.
3B – Grutz
Multiple hits – Grutz 3, Eckstein 2
Multiple RBI – Grutz 2
