RedTails Fall to Spartans
The Hawkeye RedTails Softball Team opened up at home on Thursday, March 22nd, playing Southwestern Community College in a double header. The RedTails lost both, losing game one 13-5, and game two 12-10.
Game 1: 5 (HCC), 13 (SWCC)
The Spartans started the top of the first inning scoring their first run off of a homerun. They continued to score more in the top of the second inning off of a RedTail error, two singles, and a sacrifice fly, giving them the 3-0 lead.
Southwestern was able to hold Hawkeye in the bottom of the third despite Chardonnay Hubert starting the inning off with a walk.
In the fourth inning, the Spartans scored one more run to go up 4-0. SWCC tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning putting them up 6-0 over the RedTails.
Hawkeye saw some life in the bottom of the fourth when Hubert reached base again on a double, and scored from a base hit off of the bat of Sidney Schafer.
A quick inning in the field for Hawkeye gave them the opportunity to score more. Down 6-1, the RedTails were able to close the gap. Kisha Reed lead off the inning with a single, and Caydance Sharp hit a grounder to advance Reed to second. Dharma Woodruff stepped up and hit her first homerun of the day, scoring three. The RedTails were now only down two runs going into the top of the sixth.
A tough sixth inning in the field for the RedTails gave the Spartans a bigger lead. They scored from a homerun, two RedTail errors, a single, and a fielder's choice. Hawkeye was now down 9-4.
SWCC scored four more runs in the top of the seventh. Three hits, one walk, and a RedTail error gave them the 13-4 lead.
Hawkeye tried to get something going when Kylie Collins hit a double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Hubert then doubled herself to score Collins, but there wasn't enough game left. The RedTails lost 13-5.
The RedTails were lead by Woodruff at the plate. She was 2-4 with one run scored and three runs batted in. Hubert was a perfect 3-3 at the plate adding one run scored and one run batted in. Hamand added two hits. Schafer took the loss on the mound, going the full seven innings, giving up thirteen runs, eight of which were earned, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Game 2: 10 (HCC), 12 (SWCC)
The Spartans started the game scoring one run in the top of the first, scoring from a single, walk, and fielder's choice. The RedTails wasted no time to respond, scoring two runs from a Lizzy Hamand double and Woodruff's second homerun of the day.
A quiet second inning kept the RedTails ahead 2-1, but the Spartans struck again, tying the game up 2-2 in the top of the third with a walk, single, and fielder's choice grounder.
Hawkeye didn't hesitate to put up more runs in the bottom of the third. Savannah Ringheden started the inning with a double and advanced to third from a single from Reed. Sharp followed suit with her own single to score Ringheden and advance Reed to third. Hamand stepped up with a double scoring both Reed and Sharp. Woodruff and Collins both walked to load the bases. Hubert hit a ground ball to force a Spartan error, scoring Hamand. Beenken hit a grounder to score Woodruff. A sacrifice bunt by Dailyn Marine scored Collins, putting the RedTails up 9-2.
The RedTails scored one more in the bottom of the fourth when Woodruff hit her third homerun of the day.
Up by eight runs, the RedTails couldn't hang on to their large lead. SWCC came back and scored six runs in the top of the fifth to keep the game alive.
Unable to score in the fifth or sixth, the RedTails had a 10-8 lead going into the top of the seventh. SWCC was able to capitalize and score four runs. This came from a single, single, walk, and homerun.
Down 12-10, the RedTails were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh.
At the plate, Woodruff lead the way going 2-3 with three runs scored, three runs batted in, and one walk. Hamand was 2-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Schafer took the loss on the mound, pitching 0.2 innings, giving up two hits, two runs, and one walk. Woodruff pitched four innings giving up six hits, eight runs, four earned, three walks, and one strikeout. Courtney Hemsley pitched 2.1 innings, giving up four hits, two runs, two earned, and one strikeout.
The RedTails move to 4-12 on the season. Two more home games are headed their way on March 26th against Mount Mercy University at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Conference play starts March 29th where Hawkeye will host Des Moines Area Community College at home at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
Photo ID: Picture attached of the RedTails celebrating Dharma Woodruff's homerun.
