Spartans softball wins comeback over Southeastern

The softball home opener saw the Spartans (10-6, 1-1) sweep a doubleheader with Iowa Lakes Community College Tuesday. Saturday, the Spartans were back in action at home against Southeastern Community College. The Blackhawks won the first game 7-1, but the Spartans came back strong to take game two 12-10.

Iowa Lakes

In game one, the Lakers took a 5-2 lead after the top of the fifth inning, but the Spartans went on to score five unanswered to win 7-5.

Shortstop Brooklyn Hadl led spartan scoring with two runs on three plate appearances.

Calie Allen and Erika Kruse each logged two RBIs.

Cora Ostrem pitched most of the game, striking out seven batters and allowing five runs, including a homer by Taylor Larson.

Bailey Hosbach came in during the fifth inning to close out the game.

In game two, Kirsten Streeter pitched an 8-0 no-hitter, striking out seven of 17 batters faced.

Kruse led the Spartan offense going three-for-three at bat for two runs, including a home  run, and two RBIs.

Also scoring two runs was Clara O’Brien, and a second home run was hit by Allen.

Southeastern

The Spartans opened conference play Saturday against a top team, the Southeastern Blackhawks (16-7).

In game one, the Blackhawks scored three in the second and three in the fourth to earn an early 6-0 lead over the Spartans. Of their seven runs earned during the game, five were home runs.

Kruse struggled as the opening pitcher, striking out only one batter, allowing 10 hits, six runs and four home runs before Ostrem came in for relief.

Ostrem was able to strike out three batters, but allowed a home run.

The Spartans’ only run came in the seventh inning by Kruse. Southwestern only earned three hits in the game.

In game two, the Blackhawks came out with the same hot bats they had in game one, putting up seven runs in the first two innings.

This time, however, the Spartans were able to hold on, putting up three in the first two innings and following that with a huge seven-run third inning to take a 10-7 lead.

Leading Spartan scoring was Joslyn Policky who scored three runs on three at bats. Scoring two runs each were Brooklyn Hadl, Bethany Dutton and Jersey Gray. Leading RBIs were Hadl and Emma Moore with two each.

While in game one, the Spartans struggled just to connect against Southeastern, in game two they put up 12 runs on 13 hits.

Hosbach pitched the final four innings, striking out six batters and allowing three runs.

In a long stretch of home games, the Spartans hosted Indian Hills Monday for an ICCAC doubleheader. Indian Hills won 9-0 and 6-1.

Wednesday, they host DMACC, Saturday is Iowa Western and Monday is Dakota County Technical College. All games are doubleheaders.