WARRIORS SPLIT ROAD SERIES WITH COUGARS
March 06, 2026
Peoria, IL – Indian Hills Softball split a nonconference doubleheader on the road Friday afternoon against Illinois Central Community College. The Warriors dropped the opener 6-0 before rallying back for a 14-8 victory in the nightcap.
With the split, the Warriors move to 7-15 overall on the year. The Warriors have now split each of the last three series with the Cougars.
The offense struggled to get going early on in the opener vs. Illinois Central as the Warriors mustered out just three hits to fall short. The backend of the twinbill proved to be a different story as Indian Hills pounded out 14 hits en route to 14 runs, tied for the team’s highest total this season. The Warriors have now scored in double-digits in seven contests this season.
Indian Hills pushed across runs in each of the first six innings in game two to aid in the victory. A solo home run in the first from freshman Madisyn Buysse (Geneseo, IL/Geneseo) put Indian Hills on the board first. After Illinois Central tied the game in the second, a two-run home run from sophomore Mary-Paige Withers (Le Claire, IA/Pleasant Valley) put Indian Hills back ahead 5-3.
The Cougars rallied with five runs in the bottom half of the third for an 8-5 advantage, but Withers delivered again with a two-run base hit in the fourth to cut into the deficit. Indian Hills regained the lead in the fourth thanks to a two-run double to center from Chandler Houselog (Dubuque, IA/Dubuque Hempstead) and a run-scoring single from Emma Scully (West Des Moines, IA/Valley).
Houselog put the game out of reach in the sixth with a three-run double while freshman Kate Hickenbottom (Davenport, IA/Davenport Assumption) capped the scoring with an RBI single for the 14-8 advantage.
Houselog finished the nightcap 3-4 at the plate, tying a career-high with five RBI. Buysse, Hickenbottom, Withers, and Avery Kies (Iowa City, IA/Regina Catholic) all tallied two hits apiece in the win.
Sophomore Maggie Grant (Onaway, MI/Inland Lakes) earned the win in the circle after delivering 4.1 innings of solid relief work. Grant struck out four while scattering three hits with just one unearned run allowed.
The Warriors are now set to host their home opener at R.L. Hellyer Field on March 14 as Black Hawk College (IL) heads to Ottumwa. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.
