May 25, 2022
EAGLES WIN THRILLER AT WORLD SERIES
OXFORD, Ala. - The Kirkwood Eagles edged Bryant & Stratton, 7-6, in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II World Series Wednesday night on a walk-off single by Austyn Crees in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Kirkwood (45-15) will face Phoenix College (48-6) in the quarterfinals Thursday at a time to be determined in the rain-delayed tournament.
Kirkwood's game against Bryant & Stratton began Tuesday night, but they played only a half-inning before the contest was delayed by more than 24 hours by rain. The Eagles trailed 2-0 at that point.
Peggy Klingler belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead when play was finally resumed Wednesday night and it was a seesaw battle from there.
Bryant & Stratton grabbed a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth, but Kirkwood tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth and took a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning on a solo homer by Grace Lubben. Bryant & Stratton bounced back and tied the game again, 6-6, with a run in the sixth.
There was one out in the bottom of the seventh when Crees drove in Lubben with an RBI single to give Kirkwood the walk-off victory.
Lubben went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Emilee Linder and Reagan Schutte had two hits. Neveah Hildebrandt scored twice.
Payton Akers (18-8) got the victory in relief of Kori Wedeking.
Kirkwood is seeded No. 7 in the 16-team event. Phoenix College, a national power, is seeded No. 2. Phoenix blanked Delaware Tech, 8-0, in the opening round.
Kirkwood has hit 98 home runs this season, which ranks second in the country behind DMACC. Klingler has 17 homers and Lubben has 14.
