NORTHEAST SPLITS WITH ELLSWORTH TO WIN IMPORTANT ICCAC SERIES

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College softball team was back at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Saturday to complete their series with Ellsworth Community College. The Hawks and Panthers split the two matchups as the Panthers took Game 1 by a final score of 17-7 and the Hawks captured Game 2 by a final score of 15-14.

The Hawks (18-22, 3-13 ICCAC) had trouble limiting the Panthers in their Game 1 defeat and looked to be on a similar trajectory in Game 2. The Hawks fell behind by as much as eight runs in Game 2 before an enormous rally began. Emilee Spitz (Columbus, Neb.) had two different three-run homers in Game 2 to help propel the comeback. Brianna Aguilera (Pierce, Neb.) tied the ballgame with a double and then Makynzie Loftus (Gillette, Wyo.) drove a ball to deep center that was far enough to bring Aguilera home to clinch the ICCAC series victory.

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH

Head softball coach Iris Woodhead's thoughts on the comeback in Game 2:

"We are a seventh inning or fifth inning type of team," Woodhead said. "Back against the wall, we'll fight. We saw that today and we've been seeing that all season. You put us against a wall, we're going to come after you. We just need to figure out how to come out strong from the beginning."

Woodhead's thoughts on Makynzie Loftus winning the game for the Hawks:

"That was huge!" Woodhead said. "It started with Lex (Alexis Folks) with that single and then Abby (Balfour) having a good at-bat and getting runners on. B (Brianna Aguilera) having a good two-strike approach hitting that double in the gap. Mack (Makynzie Loftus) coming through was huge. We used her as a pinch runner twice so Greta (Lindberg) wasn't able to hit and Mack stepped up. She's been having a good year. Well-earned."

How Woodhead evaluates where her team is heading into Tuesday's games against Briar Cliff University JV:

"Our hitters did great today," Woodhead said. "I thought our defense did well too. Pitchers, we have to figure it out. We're averaging two or three walks an inning. We have to figure it out on the mound. Attacking hitters and not throwing so many walks. That's our main focus is our pitchers going into Tuesday."

UP NEXT

The Hawks will travel to play both Briar Cliff University JV and Morningside University JV on the same day this week. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. with the second game following at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Sioux City, Iowa.

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