Warriors Get Satisfying Sweep

Ottumwa -- Indian Hills couldn't have asked for a better way to end the regular season and get ready for this weekend's Region 11 postseason tournament.  The Warriors, who honored the four sophomores on the roster between games of the doubleheader, got outstanding pitching, timely hitting and stellar defense in taking both games from league-leading Iowa Western, winning 4-0 and 2-1.

The victories vaulted the Warriors from last place in the conference standings into a tie for second with Muscatine CC, whom IHCC will now face in their opening game in the region tourney.

Freshman Kendle Schieber gave Indian Hills a super pitching performance in the first game.  Schieber shut out the Reivers on four hits and struck out 11.  She capped her effort with back-to-back Ks to end the game, the fifth inning in which she struck out two batters.

After leaving three runners in scoring position in the first two innings, the Warriors broke through in the 3rd.  IHCC loaded the bases with one out and two runs scored on a throwing error on an infield grounder.  Cheyenne Ellis then walked with the bases loaded to force in another run.

The final run scored on another error in the 6th. 

Hiliary Pennington, who enjoyed a great day at the plate, had three hits in the first game and matched that total in game two.  Number-nine hitter Laci Moore had a pair of hits in the opener, and then had two more from the 7th spot in the lineup the next game.

IHCC took an early lead in game two when Pennington singled and scored on a fielder's choice grounout.

After being held scoreless for the first 11 innings, Iowa Western broke through with a tying run in the 5th, courtesy of a two-out single by Bekah Sanchez.

The Warriors loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th on singles by Pennington, Olivia Starcevich and Kaylyn DeCock and scored the game-winning run on a throwing error on a grounder to shortstop.

Starcevich, DeCock and Moore all had two-hit games to go along with Pennington's three safeties.

A couple of IHCC freshmen combined to hold Iowa Western's offense in check.  Courtney Collins pitched into the 5th inning and gave way to Mackenzie Haight, who stranded a runner at second to get out of the 5th with the score tied at one and then followed with two shutout innings.

The losses were the first two in the conference for Iowa Western and gave Indian Hills three wins in their last four league games heading into the weekend region event.