No. 2 Muscatine sweeps Southwestern

CNA photo by BEN FROTSCHER Going to one: Southwestern second baseman Erin Newbury, a native of Johnston, throws to first for an out in WednesdayÕs first game of a doubleheader with league-leading Muscatine.

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Southwestern softball coach Lindsay Stumpff already knew one thing heading into Wednesday’s doubleheader with second-ranked Muscatine — they’re good. And the Cardinals showed it on the diamond with a sweep of Southwestern, 14-0 and 12-1, to extend its winning streak to 14 games. “Muscatine is ranked second in the nation and they looked like the second ranked team,” said Stumpff. “They hit the ball well, their defense was pretty clean and they do everything right. They get the little things done.” Neither game had a good start for Southwestern. In game one, Muscatine put six runs up in the first inning and held a 12-0 lead through three innings. Tiffany Coon gave up seven hits in the first inning and took the loss. Ashtyn Neill came in for relief and allowed eight hits in the final four innings. As a team, the Spartans mustered just two hits offensively — one each from Angie Hawkins and Kaylee Harris. The story was the same in game two, but the Spartans did get a run on the board. Down already 7-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Brittney Auten was hit by a pitch and Neill sacrificed her to second. After a Hannah Henrichs hit put Auten on third, she stole home on a passed ball. But that was it for offense. Muscatine (38-3, 15-1 ICCAC) went on to score five more runs in the next two innings. Cortni Livengood, in her first start of the season, took the loss after allowing three walks and one strikeout. Southwestern (11-23, 2-16 ICCAC) hosts North Central (Mo.) today for a doubleheader, weather permitting. Start time is 2:30 p.m. Muscatine 14, Southwestern 0 R H E MCC 615 02 — 14 15 0 SWCC 000 00 — 0 2 3 S: Tiffany Coon 0K 2BB, Ashtyn Neill (1) 0K 3BB and Angie Hawkins. M: Katie Watkinson 5K 3BB and Michele Shoppa. W — Watkinson. L — Coon (5-12). Muscatine 12, Southwestern 1 R H E MCC 253 02 — 12 12 0 SWCC 010 00 — 1 3 0 S: Cortni Livengood 1K 3BB, Ashtyn Neill (3) 1K 0BB and Angie Hawkins. M: Jessica Savage 5K 1BB and Jaclyn Spragg. W — Savage. L — Livengood (0-1). —————— Ben Frotscher can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 246 or bfrotscher@crestonnews.com