OTTUMWA, IA – No. 12-rated Indian Hills rode the white-hot bat of Nicole Bellis and got just enough pitching to fend off ICCAC foe Marshalltown two more times Monday afternoon to complete a sweep of the four-game set with the Tigers, winning 11-4 and 12-6.

The win pushed the Warriors (17-3, 9-1) current string of victories to nine consecutive dating back to the loss in the conference opener against Iowa Lakes on March 20.  Marshalltown (2-22, 0-10) has lost 12 straight.

"We showed up ready to play, and that starts with how we warm up," said IHCC Head Coach Lindsay Diehl.  "We haven't had a full dugout for a while, so it was great to have all the kids back and a dugout full of noise!"

The player who clearly was focused and ready was right fielder, Nicole Bellis.  The former Dowling Catholic prep tormented Tiger pitching in both ends of the doubleheader going 6-for-8 at the plate with a whopping 12 runs batted in and tagged three homeruns to catch Chloe Olson for the team lead with five on the season.

"Peyton Moffet was a huge piece of our success on Sunday, and then Nicole Bellis was the answer back we needed numerous times on Monday," Diehl added.  "Overall it was a great weekend for the Warriors."

Indian Hills jumped out to an early 3-0 in game one only to see the struggling Tigers fight back with four runs in the top of the third to snag the lead from IHCC starter Malarie Huseman.  The Warrior offense didn't let the deficit stand long, however as the hosts plated four in the bottom half of the frame to go up 7-4.

"We gave up four runs in the third and I watched our kids get the 'loser limp' and get quiet," Diehl explained.  "It was great to then see them bounce back and respond in taking the lead again."

The Warriors would push another across in the fourth to make it 8-4 and the knockout punch came in the fifth as Bellis tagged her first of three homers on the day to right, a two-run job, and freshman Breanna Newton followed suit with a round-tripper to center to make it 11-4.

"We had a great conversation about no matter what the other team does, we have to know and feel confident that we can score runs at any time, and at any point in the lineup," Diehl said.  "There is no time for pouting or the other team will exploit that."

Huseman earned her ninth win against just two losses by going the distance allowing four runs, two earned on seven hits, five strikeouts and one walk.

"After that rough third inning, Mal bounced back and was a different performer the rest of the game," Diehl added.

In addition to Bellis' efforts, Moffet continued to swing it from the top of the lineup going 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Gretta Hartz also collected three singles in four at bats and scored a pair of runs.  Anna Voigt followed up her first career homerun on Sunday with a two-RBI double in Monday's opener.

"It sure was fun seeing Anna celebrate," Diehl added.

Game two was a see-saw battle through 3 ½ frames as the Warriors built a 6-2 lead only to see the Tigers fight back against Margot van Eijl.  MCC added a run in the third and three more in the fourth to chase van Eijl and Diehl elected to go to freshman right hander Alexis Watson.

Just like she did the day before against the Tigers, Watson was a calming force in the circle and shut Marshalltown down the rest of the way to earn her first collegiate victory. Watson surrendered just one hit in 3 2/3 innings, striking out three but did issue four walks.

Bellis' two bombs came in the first inning, a three-run job with Moffet and Bryanna Mehaffy aboard, and in the fourth, which was a solo shot.  In addition to Bellis' second consecutive three-hit performance, the Warriors picked up a pair of hits from Mehaffy, Voigt, Chloe Olson and Alex Beard.

"The mindset to keep pushing was the highlight of the weekend for me," Diehl added.  "We cannot be satisfied… ever."

That lack of satisfaction looks to continue Wednesday at the Warriors travel to West Burlington to take on Southeastern in a doubleheader.  Game time is set for 11 a.m. at the Burlington Regional Rec Plex.

GAME ONE

Marshalltown                004  000 0 – 4   7  3

Indian Hills                    034  130   x – 11 14 1

WP – Malarie Huseman (9-2), LP – Kodie Hoskey (1-11)

(2B – Voigt, HR – Bellis, Newton; RBI – Bellis 6, Newton, Voigt 2;  HBP – Bix;  SB – Bix, Hartz, Mehaffy 2, Moffet)

GAME TWO

Marshalltown                201  300 0 – 6   9  4

Indian Hills                    330  312  x – 12 14 2

WP – Alexis Watson (1-0), LP – Bailey Ashton (1-9)

(2B – Beard, Voigt;  HR – Bellis 2; RBI – Beard, Bellis 6, Jevyak, Olson, Voigt;  SAC – Olson;  SB – Hartz, Mehaffy)