MASON CITY, Iowa – NIACC broke a six-game losing streak by taking advantage of 10 walks in both games during a 10-2, 10-3 sweep over Riverland Community College.
The Trojans (8-10) didn’t have to swing the bat much, but did damage when they did. Anne Studer (Fr., Titonka, IA) went 3-for-7 for the day with two triples, three runs scored, and four RBI to lead the NIACC effort.
Courtney Stephens (Fr., LeGrand, IA) had also had a good day, but didn’t swing the bat very often. She had seven plate appearances, but was 1-for-2 for the day with three runs scored in game two and an RBI in game one.
Hailey Eckstein (Fr., Larsen, WI) and Jessica Robinett (Fr., Maxwell, IA) both earned wins on the mound. Robinett, who had 14 strikeouts against Iowa Lakes in a loss on Wednesday, had seven strikeouts and no walks against Riverland. Robinett is now 5-4 this season, while Eckstein is 3-6.
No Trojan had multiple hits in game one, but all reached base at least once. Riverland pitcher Robin Arjes struggled with control and only struck out two Trojans.
NIACC broke open game one in the third inning with five runs on only two hits. The Trojans scored two runs on walks before Shelby Ward (Fr., Rockwell, IA) brought in two more on a single. Caley Johnson (Fr., Rockford, IA) scored from third base a few pitches later when Riverland catcher Morgan Herda couldn’t knock down an errant pitch.
Three more runs scored in the fourth to make it 8-1 at that time. Cassie Pappas (Fr., Mason City, IA) scored Studer on an RBI triple, and later scored on a single by Stephens. Lisa Jorgensen (Fr., Rockwell, IA) drove in Katie Gross (Fr., Crystal Lake, IA) during the next at bat.
Riverland would get one back in the top of the fifth but Studer caused the mercy rule by hitting a RBI triple and scoring on a passed ball in the bottom half of the inning.
Only four hits were needed to win game two. All of those hits came in the third inning and resulted in five RBI. Studer brought in two RBI with her second triple of the day, Beth Mildenhall (Fr., Eldora, IA) had an RBI single, and Eckstein hit a solo homerun and an RBI single in the inning. NIACC added one more run on a Johnson sacrifice hit.
NIACC had opportunities to score more, but left seven runners in scoring position during game two.
Riverland’s second pitcher Sara Sundberg had similar control issues as Arjes did with 10 walks and two hit by pitches. NIACC scored one in the second inning and two of their three runs scored in the sixth inning without needing to swing the bat.
NIACC will hit the road for a pair of road conference doubleheaders. They will be at Marshalltown Community College on Saturday and DMACC on Sunday.
GAME ONE
RCC 001 01 – 2 5 0
NIACC 005 32 – 10 7 3
Riverland Stats
Robin Arjes (2 K, 10 BB 1 HBP) and Morgan Herda.
Multiple hits – Sara Sundberg 2, Arjes 2
NIACC stats
Hailey Eckstein (3 K, 1 BB) and Lisa Jorgensen.
3B – Cassie Pappas, Anne Studer
Multiple RBI – Shelby Ward 2, Courtney Stephens 2
GAME TWO
RCC 000 201 0 – 3 12 3
NIACC 016 003 x – 10 4 3
Riverland stats
Sundberg (4 K, 10 BB, 2 HBP) and Herda.
2B – Donovan
Multiple hits – Sundberg 3, Arjes 2, Kim Craig 2, Rachel Donavan 2
Multiple RBI – Arjes 2
NIACC stats
Jessica Robinett (7 K) and Pappas.
3B – Studer
Multiple hits – Eckstein 2
Multiple RBI – Studer 3, Mildenhall 2, Eckstein 2, Johnson 2.
