After earning their third victory in their last four games, the Allen Community College Red Devils built a bit of steam ahead of taking on top-ranked Des Moines Area Community College Wednesday.
The Allen Red Devil softballers seem to be on a bit of an early tear after winning four of their last five games following Tuesday?s 4-2, 5-3 sweep of Southwestern Community College.
Strong pitching and timely hitting made the difference in both Red Devils? victories Tuesday as they improved their record to 5-8 ? winning three of their last four games.
?We did well. We had solid defense in the infield and outfield. We hit the ball well, so we were good all the way around,? Allen coach Nicole Peters said.
After giving up a run in the second, the Red Devils responded with freshman second baseman Makayla Hirschmann driving in sophomore short stop Bailee Campbell. After getting hit by a pitch, freshman third baseman Hope Sanchez made the pitcher pay for it. She began by stealing second, then taking third on Hirschmann?s RBI single. She gave Allen the lead following Hirschmann?s at-bat after scoring on a passed ball.
Sanchez ended the first game tied for the team lead in RBIs with Hirschmann with one each after a third-inning grounder drove in sophomore pitcher Camrynn Yardley, then Campbell scored on a subsequent fielding error.
As for Yardley, she had a strong day on the mound. She picked up the win with a complete-game effort ? tallying 11 strikeouts while allowing seven hits and a pair of earned runs.
In the second game, after experiencing a bit of early turbulence, sophomore pitcher Abby Marsh settled in as the Red Devils cruised to a 5-3 victory. Leading off the second inning with a triple, freshman center fielder Ella McCammon put Allen on the scoreboard when she reached home on a Campbell bunt. A Campbell double in the third tied it 2-2.
In the third, sophomore first baseman Jena Hendrix tied Campbell for the team lead in RBIs with a single swing ? scoring Hirschmann, then Campbell beat the throw to home plate. Yardley later took Allen?s lead to 5-2 after stealing home.
Marsh also pitched a complete game. She allowed three earned run and nine hits, but her defense took off much of the pressure with only one error and more than a few spectacular catches from the outfield.
?That?s always a plus when they make them, but we practice those for game-like situations,? Peters said.
?That makes it a little easier to play, to pitch your game.?
The Red Devils remain in Iola when they returned to the diamond Wednesday, then Saturday as they host a pair of highly ranked teams in the Des Moines Area Community College Bears and the Kirkwood CC Eagles, respectively. First pitches for both double-headers are 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
?They?re both ranked opponents. They will be tough, but we?re looking to come away with a split for both games. Especially if we have a defense behind us like we did today,? Peters said.
Article and Photo Credit: Jimmy Potts