Two Shutouts for IHCC at Penn

Oskaloosa, IA -- The Indian Hills softball team had their weekend trip to Branson, Missouri cancelled because of bad weather in southern Missouri. So coach Jim Overturf went looking for some games that his team could play this week with the start of the conference season looming this weekend.

William Penn agreed to have their junior varsity team host the Warriors on Monday and Indian Hills won both games, shutting out the Statesmen twice, 5-0 and 7-0.

The Warriors are now 12-8-1 for the season and have won all four games they've played since returning from their season-opening trip to Tennessee and Alabama.

Monday's first game was a scoreless tie through six innings before IHCC erupted for five runs in the top of the 7th. Kelly Ruepke and Molly Prybil drove in runs during the big inning and Ruepke, Sydney Hallbauer, Sarah Wilcox, McKenzie Cason and Kris Penick all scored for the Warriors.

Indian Hills was held to only five hits, but three went for extra bases -- a double by Lizzy Tucker and triples by Ruepke and Wilcox.

Brandi Haight was outstanding for Indian Hills, winning her 5th game of the spring. Haight went the distance, allowing only three hits and no walks while striking out five.

The Warriors jumped on top with two runs in the top of the 1st in game two. They tacked on five more runs in the 5th. Ryan Jehle and Tucker each picked up two hits for IHCC and Morgan Powers and Haight had doubles. Tucker had two RBI and Powers scored twice.

Three pitchers combined for the second-game shutout. Kylee Coughlin went the first four innings, giving up four hits. Molly Mitchell and Sonja Holmes provided scoreless relief, Mitchell going two innings and Holmes one. Each gave up only one hit.

Coach Overturf might try to take advantage of a favorable weather forecast for this week by looking for additional games for his team prior to two conference doubleheaders on the road this weekend. Indian Hills will go to Muscatine on Saturday and Southeastern on Sunday.