Softball

PREVIEW: NJCAA REGION XI TOURNAMENT

PREVIEW: NJCAA REGION XI TOURNAMENT
Posted: May 02, 2023

Ottumwa, IA – Top-seeded Indian Hills Softball is set to open postseason play Wednesday afternoon as the Warriors host No. 4 Southwestern Community College in the best 2-of-3 series.

DETAILS: 2023 NJCAA Region XI Tournament First Round

Wednesday, May 3  |  2:00 PM (DH)

Thursday, May 4  |  2:00 PM (if necessary)

Ottumwa, IA |  R.L. Hellyer Field

WATCH LIVE: GoHillsTV

LIVE STATS: Game One  |  Game Two

ADMISSION: Free!

FIRST PITCH FORECAST: 63 degrees, clear skies, perfect day for softball

The opening round of the four-team tournament gets underway with the No. 1 seeded Warriors (39-7, 18-0) hosting No. 4 seed Southwestern (14-32, 3-15). The Warriors head into postseason action ranked No. 19 in the latest national rankings.

LEADING OFF

  • Indian Hills and Southwestern will square off in the best 2-of-3 series while No. 2 Iowa Western (23-16, 9-9) and No. 3 Southeastern (23-17, 6-6) will meet in Council Bluffs on Wednesday.
  • Head coach Lindsay Diehl's team claimed the No. 1 overall seed after posting its first undefeated conference series since 2005 with an 18-0 mark.
  • The Warriors enter postseason play with the 8th most home runs in the nation (86) and the eighth lowest earned run average (1.86).
  • Indian Hills has won six consecutive NJCAA Region XI Championships, a stretch that includes 17 consecutive tournament games dating back to the 2016 season.
  • Indian Hills owns a 15-1 mark at R.L. Hellyer Field this year and are 65-7 (.903) at home over the last four seasons.

WARRIORS TO WATCH

A number of individual performances have carried the Warriors throughout the year, both at the plate and in the circle.

  • Sophomore All-Americans Destiny Lewis and Sydney Anderson have continued to power the offense for the Warriors as the duo sit atop the ICCAC in home runs, total bases, and extra base hits this year.
  • After missing the first 12 games to open the year, Claire Tipton has been a force at the plate against conference foes, sporting a .410 batting average and eight home runs in 18 conference games.
  • In total, 11 different Warriors own a batting average of .325 or better in conference games this year.
  • Sophomores Madie Anderson and Ryann Cheek have controlled the circle for the Warriors as the tandem both own earned run averages under a run per game.
    • Anderson is currently 8-0 in league games with a 0.70 ERA and 36 strikeouts while Cheek sports a 0.84 earned run average in five appearances against ICCAC foes, including a recent no-hitter vs. Southeastern.

LAST TIME OUT

The Warriors swept the six-game season series from the Spartans, including both games at R.L. Hellyer Field on April 5. Indian Hills most recently took the four-game series in Creston, IA April 23-24.

On the year, Indian Hills has outscored Southwestern 60-11.

WARRIORS IN THE POSTSEASON

The Warriors have been on an unprecedented run in the NJCAA Region XI Tournament over the last six seasons to add on to its dominance throughout the course of the last 24 seasons.

Indian Hills, who has now won eight consecutive ICCAC regular season titles, have won 20 NJCAA Region XI Championships to go along with 20 trips to the national tournament.

Last year's NJCAA Region XI Tournament saw the Warriors sweep the three-game tournament by outscoring the opposition 20-2.

WHAT'S NEXT

A sweep for either team on Wednesday will push the winner to the NJCAA Region XI Tournament Championship round while a split will force an if necessary game at 2:00 PM Thursday at R.L. Hellyer Field.

The NJCAA Region XI Tournament Championship round, also a best 2-of-3 series will run at the highest remaining seed May 7-8.