April 30, 2023
KCC WOMEN TOP NIACC FOR LEAGUE TITLE
MASON CITY - The 12th-ranked Kirkwood softball team won a showdown for the conference title against NIACC Sunday in the final game of the regular season in Mason City.
The Eagles prevailed, 17-9, in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader to finish one game ahead of NIACC. The Eagles finished 20-4 in the conference and NIACC finished 19-5.
NIACC beat Kirkwood, 14-8, in the first game Sunday, giving both teams 19-4 marks heading into the decisive second game of the twin bill.
Kirkwood scored seven runs in the top of the first inning of Game 2, but NIACC pulled within 8-5 after four innings. Kirkwood scored four runs in the fourth inning and tacked on five more runs in the fifth inning and captured the game by the eight-run mercy rule.
Grace Lubben went 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs, and five RBIs to spark the Eagles in the 17-9 victory in Game 2. She went 6-for-13 in the four-game series with three homers, six runs, and eight RBIs.
Kirkwood and NIACC split their first doubleheader Saturday. Kirkwood won the first game, 8-4, and NIACC took the nightcap 5-3 to stay alive in the conference race.
Neveah Hildebrandt, Sydney Roe, Peggy Klingler, and Sailor Hall hit two homers in the series. Roe went 7-for-12 with seven runs and three RBIs. Klingler went 7-for-12 with eight runs and six RBIs. Brooke Kilburg was 5-for-11 with a homer and three RBIs.
Chelsea Buck went 5-for-15 with three RBIs. Annie Gahan hit a home run.
Kara Maiers (13-6) and Sailor Hall (16-4) were the winning pitchers.
Kirkwood will host a three-team regional this weekend.
