RedTails Split on the Day, Earn First Win of Season
The RedTails finished off their trip to the Midwest Bash in Park Hills, Missouri, facing two NJCAA D1 opponents. The RedTails won the first game, beating Southeastern Illinois College 15-0 in five innings. The RedTails lost the second game to Southwestern Illinois College, 10-9.
HCC (15), SE IL (0)
The bats were alive for the RedTails in game one. Lucy Lebo started the inning off with a double, but was forced out by a fielder's choice. Mya Chamberlin singled to score Mackenzie Bridgewater. Ellie Lorenz hit a single to put runners on first and second. Alyvia Anderson stepped up and hit a double to score both Chamberlin and Lorenz, making the score 3-0. Anderson then advanced to third and home on passed balls, giving the RedTails four runs in the inning.
A three up three down bottom of the first got the bats back in the hands of the RedTails. Jordan Eads and Emilee Bergmann drew back to back walks and moved to second and third on a groundball by Lucy Lebo. Kenzie Bridgewater then put the ball in play, scoring Eads, making the score 5-0 in favor of the RedTails.
The third inning was quiet on both sides, but the top of the fourth inning brought more runs for the RedTails. Bergmann led the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a Bridgewater single. Chamberlin grounded out, scoring Bergmann, giving Hawkeye the 6-0 lead.
The bats broke open in the top of the fifth. Isabelle Kriegel started the inning with a solo homerun, followed by an Alyvia Anderson double and Hailey Harbour double, putting the RedTails up 8-0. Eads and Bergmann both walked, and Harbour scored on a wild pitch. Eads then scored when Bergmann stole second. Delaney Eickert walked to put runners on first and second. Bases became loaded when Jordan Trueblood walked, and an Addyson McKillip double scored two runs. A sacrifice fly from Lillian McCarty scored Trueblood and advanced McKillip to third. Adelyn Sienknecht joined the hitting frenzy, scoring McKillip on a single. Sienknecht advanced to second off of a fielders choice, and moved to third from a single by Keira Rathjen. A Maranda Pollock double scored the final run of the inning, putting the RedTails in a comfortable 15-0 lead.
A three up three down defensive fifth inning for the RedTails let the Hawkeye complete the run-ruled win.
At the plate, Anderson led, going 2-2 with two doubles, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. 10 other RedTails had hits of their own in the game, and eight RedTails had RBIs. On the mound, Chamberlin got the win, going four innings, giving up just one hit, two walks, and three strikeouts. McKillip pitched the last inning, getting two strikeouts in her first outing.
Game Two: SW IL (10), HCC (9)
Game two was full of good plays and solid hitting. The Bobcats started the game in the lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on a walk and homerun.
The RedTails answered, scoring one run on a solo shot from Kriegel.
The Bobcats answered, scoring two more runs in the second. They scored on two doubles and a single, taking the 4-1 lead.
The RedTails then responded with a Bridgewater walk, stolen base, and Chamberlin single to score one run.
The Bobcats threatened again in the third inning. They put two runners on and scored one run on a sacrifice fly. The RedTails got out of the inning with a double play.
Kriegel started the top of the fourth with her second home run of the game, third of the day, making the score 5-3 in favor of the Bobcats.
The bottom of the fourth, Southwestern Ilinois put up a few more runs, scoring three from two singles, a walk, and a double.
A quiet fifth inning on both sides gave the RedTails a chance to cut the five run lead. Anderson started with a one out single, and scored from a homerun off the bat of Trueblood, putting the RedTails behind 8-5.
Southwest Illinois put up their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring from two singles, a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch, and a squeeze bunt.
The top of the seventh was the last chance for the RedTails, and they put up a fight. Bridgewater started with a double and scored on a Chamberlin double, which cut the lead to three runs. Lorenz followed up with her own double to score Chamberlin. Kriegel then walked to put runners on first and second. Anderson clutched and scored Lorenz on a double, making the RedTails behind just two runs. Trueblood then singled to score pinch runner, Bergmann, putting the RedTails behind 10-9. The Bobcats made a great defensive play, ending the four run inning for the RedTails, leaving them just one run short.
At the plate, the RedTails were led by Trueblood, who was 3-4 with three runs batted in and one run scored. Kriegel, was 2-3 with two runs scored, two runs batted in, two homeruns, and one walk. Anderson and Chamberlin each had two hits. Eight RedTails collected hits this game.
On the mound, Sienkencht took the loss, going two innings, giving up six hits, five earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts. McKillip threw 1.1 innings, giving up three hits, three earned runs, and one walk. Kyra Ballard threw the final 2.2 innings, giving up two hits, two earned runs, one walk, and two strikeouts.
The RedTails move to 1-3 on the season. They are back in action on Saturday, February 28th at Highland Community College in Highland, KS.