COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – No. 18-rated Indian Hills split a pair of ICCAC contests with rival Iowa Western Wednesday at Reiver Sports Complex, falling in game one 6-4, before seeing Margot van Eijl pitch a no-hitter to blank the hosts 8-0 in five innings in the nightcap.

Indian Hills Head Softball Coach Lindsay Diehl has been stressing all season that if her team would keep focus and energy on every pitch, she can live with the results, win or lose.  Her team's effort and mindset during Wednesday's games allowed her to keep that promise despite a loss in the opener.

"I am so happy with the energy we played with today. The kids were all in, every pitch from the dugout," Diehl said.  "If we would have cleaned up a few things and we could've gotten game one."

The Warriors (28-8 overall, 20-6 ICCAC) fell behind 3-0 in the opener, but then plated single tallies in each of the final four frames to claw back into the contest.  Ultimately, IHCC fell short, but the never-say-die attitude allowed Diehl to stomach the result.

"I was pleased to see them keep fighting and believing we could win that game," Diehl added "There were some small things we can get better at, but they are getting better defensively."

Even with the loss in the opener, the Warrior defense did hold things together throughout as IHCC only committed a single error in each of the two contests.  Shockingly, Iowa Western found its way to the winner's circle in game one despite committing six errors.  The Reivers would follow up that shaky defensive performance with four more miscues in the finale.

Perhaps Diehl's optimistic approach to the opening loss came from not only playing better defensively, but her team also outhit the Reivers 7-6 in game one.  Gretta Hartz was 2-for-3 with and RBI and one run scored.  Peyton Moffet, Nicole Bellis, Chloe Olson, Kennedy Preston and Anna Voigt all added hits to the Warrior cause.

Malarie Huseman (13-6) shouldered the loss in 5 1/3 innings of work.  Huseman struck out seven and walked two while surrendering six hits.  C.J. Banner tossed the final two outs.

The highlight of the two-game set was undoubtedly the performance of van Eijl in game two.  The Warrior right-hander came within a couple of batters of a perfect game, but would end up settling for the five-inning no-hitter.

Van Eijl (11-0) carried the perfect game into the bottom of the fifth, but a one-out error ended the shot at perfection, and a base on balls followed to put a pair of Reiver runners on.  Van Eijl would get Karlie Chonis on strikes for the second out and coaxed a ground out to Gracie Jevyak at first to seal the no-hitter.

"Wow, Margot threw a real gem today," Diehl beamed.  "She had a presence on the mound and was dealing for sure. We made plays for her and the bats made adjustments the second time through the line up to get out in five innings."

Van Eijl's no-no took just 65 pitches over the five frames and the Warrior hurler struck out five with just the one walk.

IHCC collected seven more hits in the finale led by Voigt's pair of singles.  Moffet, Bellis and Newton all drove in a pair of runs each while Moffet and Olson both doubled.

Indian Hills faces another solid challenge this weekend as the Warriors play host to Kirkwood for a four-game, two-day set against the Eagles.  Kirkwood (29-8, 18-4) is ranked No. 7 in the most recent NJCAA Division II poll.

 "This weekend is going to be another great test for us," Diehl admitted. "I am challenging my kids to dig their heels in and want more."

First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is 1 p.m. while Sunday's twinbill begins at noon.

GAME ONE

Indian Hills             000 111 1 – 4  7  1

Iowa Western         102 012 x – 6  6  6

Malarie Huseman, C.J. Banner (6) and Kennedy Preston.  Brooke Melnychuck and Katarina Bain, Sydney McCorkle (7).

W – Melnychuck. L – Huseman (13-6).

E – Voigt.  LOB – IH 7, IW 3.  DP – IH 1.  3B – Moffet.  RBI – Bellis, Hartz, Preston, Voigt.  SAC – Voigt.  SB – Hartz, Mehaffy.

GAME TWO

Indian Hills             013 40 – 8  7  1

Iowa Western        000 00 – 0  0  4

Margot van Eijl and Peyton Moffet.  Libby Walls, Sage Copeland (4) and Karlie Chonis.

W – van Eijl (11-0).  L – Walls.

E – Newton.  LOB – IH 5. IW – 2.  2B – Moffet, Olson.  RBI – Bellis 2, Moffet 2, Newton 2, Olson, Voigt.  SAC -Mehaffy.  SB – Mehaffy, Preston.