Indians Take Two From Demons At Home
by Jamie Brockman
The Oskaloosa Softball team got their bats going big as they swept Washington in two games at home Wednesday. The Indians won game one 11-0 in six innings and 8-5 in the nightcap. The Indians tallied 19 runs on 25 hits in the two games while limiting Washington to five runs on 12 total hits.
In game one, after a scoreless first inning, Oskaloosa got on the board in the second with the bottom of their order using a two-out double from Faith DeRonde and an RBI single from Taylor Wills to gain a 1-0 edge. The Indians added two more runs in the third, this time from the top of their order, on back to back singles from Meghan Moorman and Ashley Kindley. Both were brought home on a 2 RBI double by Abby Braundmeier to put the Indians ahead 3-0. Hayle Hacker did her job in the pitching circle retiring the Demons in order in the fourth and fifth innings, while at the plate Oskaloosa added a run in each inning as DeRonde walked to start the fourth and was brought in on an RBI single from Moorman. Sophie Dykstra then went deep for a solo home run in the fifth for the first Osky homerun of the season, extending their lead to 5-0. The Indians were on fire in the sixth inning scoring six runs on five hits and a Washington error ultimately ending the game due to the ten-run rule. In the sixth, Kaylee Johnson started with a single, Moorman reached on an error, Kindley singled, Ava Vandewall singled in two runs, Braundmeier singled, and a pitch hit Maddy Haines. Then still with no outs, Sophie Dykstra drove in three runs on a double to end the game.
The Indians scored 15 runs on 11 hits, committed one error and stranded eight runners on base. Hacker got her third win of the season pitching six innings, allowing five hits and 0 runs while striking out two and walking none. At the plate, Moorman went 2-3 with an RBI, Kindley was 4-4, all singles and scored two runs, Vandewall 1-4 with two RBI, Braundmeier 2-4 with two RBI, Haines was 1-3 with an RBI, Dykstra 1-4 with 3 RBI, DeRonde went 2-3 with 2 doubles, a walk and scored two runs, Wills 1-2 with an RBI and Johnson finished 1-3.
The nightcap was much tighter as Washington scored in the top of the first inning to take an early lead. However, Oskaloosa answered in the bottom of the first tying the game on an RBI single from Braundmeier scoring Moorman who drew a leadoff walk. The Indians plated four runs in the second inning using five hits including a two-run homer from DeRonde and held a 5-1 lead. The Demons came right back with three runs in the third inning taking advantage of a walk and two hit batters by Faith Deronde who started game two in the circle and added another in the fourth tied the game at 5-5. Oskaloosa sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and regained the lead on a bases-loaded walk.
With Oskaloosa leading 6-5, Coach Jay Harms went back to Hayle Hacker in relief of DeRonde to start the fifth inning. Hacker still had her good stuff as she faced only 13 batters and finished the game throwing the final three innings, allowing only two hits while striking out four and walking none and picked up another win.
In the second game, Oskaloosa tallied eight runs on 11 hits, 0 errors and stranded eight base runners. At the plate, Moorman had a double, Vandewall had a single and RBI, Braundmeier had two singles and two RBI, Dykstra had a single and double, Deronde had one home run and two RBI, Taylor Wills had two singles and Johnson had a single.
Afterward, Coach Harms said it was great to see the bats come alive and see the team hit like he knew they could. He was also very pleased with the pitching of Hacker and said this is what the girls needed heading into a tough conference doubleheader at DC-G tomorrow night. Oskaloosa improved to 6-1 with the wins and will play a doubleheader at DC-G Wednesday starting at 5:30 pm.
