Lincoln, NE—Sophomores Sarah Wilson (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa), Brianna James (Lynnville, IA/Lynnville-Sully), and Mackenzie Gott (Oskaloosa, IA/Oskaloosa) combined to allow just two runs on five hits in two games as the Marshalltown Community College softball team swept Southeast Community College, scoring a 14-2 game one win and an 8-0 victory in the nightcap. The Tigers improve to 6-3 on the year.
In the team's last six games, the Tigers have allowed just three runs and have won their last five contests. James got the start in game two and tossed four shutout innings while Gott closed out the game with a scoreless fifth inning to take two wins from the Storm on the road.
Thursday's doubleheader opened up a week-long road trip for the Tigers that will see MCC play 12 games in a seven-day stretch. The Tigers opened up with a 5-2 lead in the opener after two innings of play thanks to a pair of runs from Holli Baker (Grimes, IA/Dallas Center-Grimes). MCC exploded for six runs on six hits in the third inning to pull away. The Tigers tacked on three more runs from the bottom of the order in the top of the fifth inning to take the win.
Six players had at least two hits for the Tigers in the opener, and all nine batters scored a run to pace the offensive attack. Wilson allowed just one hit in the win, her third of the year, while striking out seven batters.
The onslaught continued in game two as MCC jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening frame as Wilson drove in two on a double. James kept the Storm bats quiet, not allowing a base runner until the fourth inning as the Tigers finished off the sweep in five innings.
Brooke Dunkin (Bussey, IA/Twin Cedars) and Tacie Blunk (Boone, IA/Boone) each collected three hits in the game for the Tigers while McKenna Hotopp (State Center, IA/West Marshall) belted two doubles.
The Tigers' road trip continues at the Midwest Classic in Bixby, OK with six games over the weekend, set to begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday against Eastern Oklahoma State College.
