Spartans win on Button’s three-run walk off homer

In both games against Iowa Western Friday, the Spartans needed runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off win.

In game one, they needed three, but ended the inning with zero, losing the ICCAC matchup 10-8.

But when they were down one run in game two, sophomore Bethany Button knocked the ball over the fence for a three-run homer to win 16-14.

Button was an offensive star for the Spartans (11-11, 2-4) in the doubleheader, scoring a total of six runs and logging four RBIs. In game two, Button scored four runs on three hits, including the game-winning home run.

Sophomore Erika Kruse and freshman Joslyn Policky were also offensive weapons, Kruse scoring two runs in game one and three in game two. Policky had a team-high 3 RBIs in game one.

Back and forth

Both games were a rollercoaster of lead changes, the doubleheader taking five hours to complete on the warm but very windy spring day.

Iowa Western (17-11, 3-3) scored the first three runs in game two, logging one in the second inning and two in the third.

The Spartans responded, tying the game in the bottom of the third with three runs.

With freshman Emma Moore on third base and sophomore Cora Ostrem on second, Button hit a single to send Moore home.

Kruse was walked, loading the bases for sophomore Kristen Streeter who hit a double to send in Ostrem and Button, tying the score at three apiece.

The Spartans held off the Reivers in the top of the fourth, closing out the inning with a catch in right field by freshman Jersey Gray.

Kruse pitched the first four innings, striking out three batters, walking three and allowing four runs including one home run.

In the fourth, the Spartans regained the lead after a solo home run by sophomore Brooklyn Hadl.

The Reivers came back with two of their own in the fifth, but the Spartans responded, also scoring two. SWCC led 6-5 after five innings.

In the final two innings, Iowa Western outscored the Spartans 5-2.

Kristen Streeter pitched one inning, striking one out and allowing three runs.

Ostrem finished out the last two innings, striking out two and allowing three runs.

Game two saw five home runs — another by Hadl, the game winner by Button and three from the Reivers.

Ostrem started in the circle for the Spartans in the second game, not allowing any runs in the first two innings.

Starting in the bottom of the second inning, the runs came flooding in for both teams. SWCC scored three in the second, four in the third and six in the fourth while the Reivers put up five in the third and four in the fourth.

Finally, after a scoreless fifth, the Spartans were leading 13-9.

Iowa Western narrowed the gap with three runs in the sixth and took the lead in the seventh with two runs, making the score 14-13 before Button’s homer.

The Spartans’ performance across both games is a positive sign as the Reivers were the preseason favorite, projected by the coaches poll to win the conference.

Indian Hills remains a perfect 6-0 in ICCAC play while Southeastern and Iowa Western each sit at 3-3. The Spartans are in fourth with a 2-4 conference record while Marshalltown Community College is looking for their first win on the season.

Monday, the Spartans swept Dakota County Technical College 10-1 and 13-5 in a home doubleheader.

SWCC has an eight-game stretch of away games starting today at Kansas City Kansas Community College. The Spartans return home Thursday, April 10, for a doubleheader with North Central Missouri College.