COTTLEVILLE, MO – After weeks of watching its NJCAA national ranking fluctuate up and down without even playing a game, No. 7-ranked Indian Hills finally got its season underway in style Saturday as the Warriors belted out convincing wins over Lincoln Land, 9-2, and Saint Charles, 9-3, in Cottleville, Missouri.
The pair of nine-run outbursts was a welcome sight to third-year head coach Lindsay Diehl as her Warriors attempt to put the disappointment of last season's abrupt ending and the malaise of the pandemic in the review mirror.
"It was nice to be back on the dirt and see the kids compete again," Diehl said. "Overall, I am happy with how the games went for day one. On the bus ride home I thought back to my first year here, and how it started, and this is definitely a few steps ahead of where that journey began, so hopefully we keep learning growing and figuring out how to play Indian Hills softball."
Diehl's reference to her team's beginning in her initial season at the helm was a peek back to when at one point that season, the Warriors were a full seven games under .500 early on, but ended up winning 24-straight on the way to conference and district titles, in addition to a trip to the national tournament where they finished in the top eight at 42-18. While it's early, the comparison could be an excellent sign of things to come if the veteran coach feels like this squad is ahead of that 2019 club in development.
But, before one can start handing out national tournament bids, a season opener must be played, and the 9-2 win over the Loggers (2-3) was a promising start.
IHCC broke the ice first in the opener, as Nicole Bellis' RBI-single in the first got the Warriors on the board. The big blow came in the second frame as sophomore Chloe Olson drilled a three-run homer to give pitcher C.J. Banner a 4-0 cushion early. Olson's bomb was her 25th career round-tripper and lands her in the top ten in Indian Hills history in a tie for 9th with Shyanne DuBois (2015-17) and Steph Tharp (1993-95). Seven former Warriors now stand between Olson and her teammate from a season ago in Brooke Snider, who had 36 homers in her IHCC career to top the homer charts.
Banner would surrender two runs in the third inning, but the Warriors kept tacking on as IHCC plated at least one run in every frame in rolling to the season's first win.
"We definitely had some first-game jitters that we can now put behind us," Diehl said. "We did a nice job at the plate extending the lead."
The Warriors pounded out 12 hits and were led by Peyton Moffet's 4-for-4, 2-RBI performance at the dish. Bellis was 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple and a pair knocked in. Freshman Bryanna Mehaffy had a solid debut, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored.
"Peyton Moffet picked up right where she left off last year with a hot bat," Diehl added. "She sets the tone in our lineup. Bellis also did a great job at the plate, and I was impressed with how Bryanna Mehaffy showed up to prove herself today."
Banner surrendered just two hits in six innings of work to grab the win. The righty fanned seven and walked three. Freshman Alexis Watson took care of the seventh in order in her collegiate debut.
"I was pleased with how C.J. threw while she kept getting run support from her offense," Diehl said.
The night cap against the host Cougars again saw the Warriors getting up big early as St. Charles was looking up at a 6-0 deficit after just three frames. Unlike the opener, however, IHCC didn't keep adding on.
"We scored early to set the tone, but then went to sleep in a few innings offensively," Diehl lamented. "I look forward to our team figuring out how to stay hungry every inning and keeping the pressure on."
Dubuque Hempstead product Malarie Huseman collected the win in the circle in her first collegiate start going 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. Huseman surrendered three runs, two earned, and gave up six hits and hit one batter. After giving up the unearned run in the fourth to the Cougars, the righty got into a little bit of trouble in the sixth frame when St. Charles' Emma Becker drilled a two-run homer to make it 6-3, but the Warrior hurler redeemed herself in the top of the next frame.
"Malarie answered the call herself by hitting a three-run homerun to give us a little room going to the seventh," Diehl said. "She threw well for her first day in a Warrior uniform. When she figures out how to trust herself a little more, she is going to be tough in the circle. Even though she threw well, I know she is capable of being even better."
Margot van Eijl came on with one out in the final frame and worked around an error to close the door with two strikeouts to seal the victory.
Huseman was 2-for-4 at the plate and knocked in five of the nine Warrior runs. Olson was 2-for-4 and Mehaffy was 2-for-3 with 2 stolen bases and two runs scored. Knoxville's Maddy Findley had a pair of hits in four plate appearances.
"Mehaffy did it on both sides of the game today, playing a solid shortstop and getting on base for us," Diehl said.
The Warriors (2-0) will make a return trip to Cottleville on Thursday for another twinbill, this time with both contests coming against the host Cougars (3-1). Game time is set for 1 p.m.
COTTLEVILLE, MISSOURI
GAME ONE
Lincoln Land 002 000 0 – 2
Indian Hills 131 121 x – 9
WP- Banner (1-0), LP - Schaake
GAME TWO
Indian Hills 303 000 3 – 9
St. Charles 000 102 0 – 3
WP – Huseman (1-0), LP - Hultz