(Atlantic) Atlantic remained undefeated in Hawkeye Ten Conference play Monday night, sweeping Lewis Central in a softball doubleheader 3-2 and 11-5 at Atlantic. The Trojans improved to 8-0 against conference opponents, while the Titans fell to 7-2.
Peyton McLaren played a key role in Atlantic’s 3-2 victory in the opener. The junior earned the win in the circle, striking out 10 batters while allowing two runs on three hits. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate and delivered the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Trojans had several opportunities in the first game, however, timely hits were hard to come by. The Trojans stranding 11 base runners.
Lewis Central took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when leadoff hitter Madison Johnette doubled and later scored on an error. Atlantic answered in the bottom of the second as Makenna Schroeder’s two-out RBI single tied the game at 1-1.
The Titans regained the lead in the third inning when Camryn King hit a solo home run over the left-field wall, making it 2-1. McLaren helped Atlantic pull even in the bottom of the sixth, leading off the inning with a single and eventually scoring on a Lewis Central error to tie the game at 2-2.
After holding Lewis Central scoreless in the top of the seventh, McLaren came through again in the bottom half of the inning. Her RBI single scored Jillian Saathoff and gave the Trojans the walk-off 3-2 victory.
Atlantic scored three runs on nine hits in the game. Peyton McLaren led the Trojans offensively, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Zoey Kirchhoff added a double and a single, while Kinsley Johnson, London Kirchhoff, Claire Schroder, and Makenna Schroeder each recorded a hit.
Lewis Central scored two runs on three hits. Camryn King hit a home run, Madison Johnette doubled, and Harper Wilcox added a single.
Both teams opened up the scoring in the nightcap. When the dust cleared the Trojans scored 11 runs on nine hits. Lewis Central scored five runs on nine hits and committed four errors.
Lewis Central jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the game. Aubree Davis led off the first inning with a triple and later scored on a Madison Johnette RBI to give the Titans a 1-0 advantage.
The Titans added four more runs in the third inning. Ella Escritt singled and Davis reached on an intentional walk before Johnette delivered a two-run single. Camryn King later scored on a Harper Wilcox RBI single, and Bailey Zaloudek drove in Wilcox to extend Lewis Central’s lead to 5-0.
Atlantic responded in the bottom of the third, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs on three hits. London Kirchhoff highlighted the rally with a two-run double, while Peyton McLaren added an RBI single.
Atlantic kept the momentum going in the fourth inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs on four hits. London Kirchhoff delivered another RBI double, while Jillian Saathoff and Dylin Ball each drove in a run to spark the Trojans’ offense.
London Kirchhoff led the Trojans with three doubles, and three RBI. Dylin Ball drilled a double and a single. Jillian Saathoff, Kinsley Johnson, Zoey Kirchhoff, and Peyton McLaren each hit singles for the Trojans.
Brynn Lamp a complete game for the Trojans allowing five runs on nine hits, two walks and four Strike outs.
Madison Johnette led Lewis Central with two hits, and three RBI. Harper Wilcox drilled a pari of singles and drove in a run. Ella Escritt provided the Titans with offensive production at the bottom of the order with two singles. Bailey Zaloudek, Sutton Shepley each singled, and Aubree Davis hit a triple.
Atlantic moves to 11-2 on the season, and travels to Creston on Tuesday. Lewis Central falls to 10-5. Next up for the Titans is a single game with Denison-Schleswig at Iowa Western Community College.
