Kirkwood softball sweeps Spartans

CNA photo by BEN FROTSCHER Small ball: Southwestern catcher Angie Hawkins throws to first base for an out in WednesdayÕs doubleheader with Kirkwood. After losing 7-0 in the first game, Kirkwood held on for a 6-3 victory in game two.

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When a team is without its top offensive player, getting everything in line can be a bit of an adventure. With Southwestern center fielder Brittney Auten sidelined with an illness Wednesday, Kirkwood swept the Spartans in a softball doubleheader, 7-0 and 6-3. “We had people in different positions and weren’t used to it,” said Southwestern coach Lindsay Stumpff. “Without having time to practice and going over situations, it’s hard to do it in a game.” With Auten missing in center field, second baseman Tiffany Troutwine moved to the outfield while former Nodaway Valley player Jodie Beitz moved into Troutwine’s position. In the game one 7-0 defeat, Kirkwood got on the board in the first inning. With the Eagles up 1-0 and the bases loaded with one out, the Spartans got out of the jam by getting the next two batters out. But Kirkwood (8-5) continued to hit the ball well, collecting 12 hits for the game. Southwestern struggled with just two hits, both from Erin Newbury. Southwestern did get the bats going in game two, outhitting Kirkwood 7-6. Southwestern trailed by just a 4-3 score heading to the top of the sixth inning, but Kirkwood scored a pair of runs to put the game away. Stumpff said adapting better to a pitcher in the future will help her squad. “We didn’t adjust very well going from the pitchers on Monday to someone who threw a little faster and had more control on her ball,” said Stumpff. “Most of the pitchers will be like the second pitcher for Kirkwood — decent speed and good control.” Newbury, Kaylee Harris and Beitz all drove in runs for Southwestern (6-6 overall, 0-2 ICCAC), which now has a busy next five days. Today’s doubleheader here with Iowa Central has been moved to Friday at 3:30 p.m. The Spartans host doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday with NIACC and Ellsworth, before traveling to doubleheaders at North Central (Mo.) and Muscatine on Monday and Tuesday. Kirkwood 7, Southwestern 0 R H E KCC 120 301 0 — 7 12 1 SWCC 000 000 0 — 0 2 3 S: Ashtyn Neill 2K 1BB and Angie Hawkins. K: Terra Van Buren and Heather Van Hyning. W — Van Buren. L — Neill (3-3). Multiple hitters — S: Erin Newbury. Kirkwood 6, Southwestern 3 R H E KCC 040 002 0 — 6 6 1 SWCC 010 020 0 — 3 7 2 S: Tiffany Coon 1K 1BB and Angie Hawkins. K: Kayla Streb, Mallory Grutton (5) and Heather Van Hyning. W — Streb. L — Coon (3-3). RBI — S: Erin Newbury 1, Kaylee Harris 1, Jodie Beitz 1. —————— Ben Frotscher can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 246 or bfrotscher@crestonnews.com