Ottumwa, IA – The Indian Hills Softball team split an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon with Southeastern Community College, falling 6-5 in the opener before bouncing back with a 14-6 run-rule victory in the nightcap.
The Warriors move to 16-12 overall on the year and 3-1 in league play after the conference split at R.L. Hellyer Field on Saturday. The game two route was the team's eight double-digit run game of the year as the Warriors sit atop the five-team ICCAC standings.
Trailing 4-0 midway through Saturday's opener, the Warriors put together a valiant comeback, sparked by an RBI double from sophomore Tatum Aragon (Fort Collins, CO/Fort Collins) in the bottom of the third. The Warriors continued to battle back as Claire Tipton (Unionville, MO/Putnam County) added an RBI double in the fifth followed by a pinch-hit, two-run home run from the bat of Julia Kwakernaak (The Hague, Netherlands/Segbroek College) to even the game at four-all.
The Warriors took their first lead of the game in the sixth inning as Eva Fulk (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny) singled to center to drive in Hannah Simpson (Fairfield, IA/Fairfield) for the 5-4 edge. Indian Hills carried the lead into the seventh, but the Blackhawks prevailed with a late two-run home run to mark the difference.
Fulk finished the opener 3-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Freshman Ashlynn Sheets (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa), this week's ICCAC Pitcher of the Week, struck out six batters in the complete game effort for the Warriors.
The Warrior offense wasted no time jumping on the board in an effort to even the series on Saturday as Aragon drilled a two-run home run to right center in the bottom half of the first inning. A pair of runs from the Blackhawks evened the game at two in the second, but the home team plated six runs in the bottom half to pull away. Simpson connected on a solo home run while Tipton delivered the signature knock, a grand slam to left center field.
Indian Hills tacked on two more in the third as Yarah Zuiver (Zaanstad, Netherlands/Segbroek College) and Fulk added run-scoring doubles. The Warriors broke things open with four more runs in the fourth behind Aragon's second home run of the contest and a solo home run from Ava Smith (Waukee, IA/Waukee Northwest)..
Have a day, Tatum��
— Indian Hills Softball (@WarriorSoftball) March 23, 2024
Aragon's second homer of the game makes it 12-4 in the fourth!@GoHillsTv | #EveryDayWarriors pic.twitter.com/xBhYw3N4bs
Simpson and Zuiver each tallied three hits and two runs scored in the win for the Warriors. Sophomore Sara Reid (Central City, IA/Central City) picked up her seventh win of the year with a complete game effort backed by six strikeouts.
Fulk continued to flourish at the plate for the Warriors as the sophomore upped her batting average to a team-high .429 on the year. The sophomore also leads the offense with 39 hits, 29 runs scored, three triples, 10 walks, and nine stolen bases this season.
Next up for the Warriors is a trip to Lake Land Community College in Mattoon, IL on April 2 for a non-league doubleheader.
As always, GoHillsTV provides free live broadcasts of all Indian Hills home softball games. Fans can tune in a number of ways all season long:
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