Independence, KS – The Indian Hills Softball team got back to its winning ways on Monday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of Independence Community College (KS). The Warriors took both games by a score of 12-0 to improve to 5-6 on the year.
Indian Hills needed just five innings in each contest to pick up its second sweep of the year. The offensive trio of Destiny Lewis (Indianola, IA/Indianola), Sydney Anderson (Elkhart, IA/North Polk), and Gretta Hartz (Runnells, IA/Southeast Polk) combined for 17 hits on the day, including four doubles and five home runs. Madi Huisman (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny Centennial) and Margot van eijl (Oosterhout, Netherlands/Calandlyceum) each picked up a win in the circle.
The Warriors jumped out early and often against the Pirates in game one, scoring at least two runs in each of the first four frames, including four in the first inning alone. Kennedy Preston (Carlisle, IA/Carlisle) ignited the offense with a run-scoring single followed by a two-run single from Hartz. Carly Campbell (Homestead, IA/Williamsburg) added an RBI single to put the Warriors ahead 4-0.
Breanna Newton (Bettendorf, IA/Bettendorf) provided a run-scoring double and Hartz added another RBI single to push the Warriors ahead 7-0. Lewis and Anderson each added run-scoring base knocks in the third before Hartz made it 10-0 on an RBI double to score Anderson.
Lewis put the game out of reach in the fourth inning with a two-run home run, the freshman's third round-tripper of the year.
Huisman starred in the circle to earn the win for the Warriors. The sophomore held the Pirates without a baserunner for the first 4.2 innings of work before Independence collected a two-out single in the fifth. Huisman struck out seven batters without a walk to move to 3-2 overall on the season.
The Warrior offense continued to flourish in the nightcap, scoring a run in all five innings to complete the sweep. Lewis led off the game with a solo home run before connecting on a two-run shot in the second inning for a 3-0 lead.
Anderson added a home run in the third, a solo shot to center for her fifth of the season. Hartz connected on her 10th career home run in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. Newton extended the lead to 7-0 in the third with a RBI double. The Warriors opened the floodgates in the fifth as Newton and Preston connected on back-to-back home runs for the 12-0 lead.
van eijl allowed just one hit in three innings of work while striking out four batters to earn the win. Madie Anderson (Mt. Pleasant, IA/Winfield Mt. Union) added two perfect innings of relief work for the Warriors.
Indian Hills is back in action Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader with Labette Community College in Parsons, KS.