GRAD HAS HUGE WEEKEND AS HAWKS SPLIT IN IOWA

IOWA FALLS, Iowa and FARLEY, Iowa – The Northeast Community College softball team hit the road this weekend for two doubleheaders against Ellsworth Community College and Northeast Iowa Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa and Farley, Iowa. The Hawks split with the Panthers on Saturday, winning Game 1 by a final score of 6-2 and dropping Game 2, 3-2. On Sunday, Northeast took Game 1 by a final score of 6-1 before the Hawks fell in Game 2 by a final score of 4-3.

Northeast (10-25, 2-10 ICCAC) picked up their first victory in ICCAC play this season against Ellsworth in Game 1 as Ava Wolters (Omaha, Neb.) singled to score Hayley Grad (Medicine Hat, Alberta) in the top of the seventh inning to send the contest to extra innings. In the eighth inning, the Hawks poured it on by scoring five runs to secure the triumph.

Amy Lauby (Fairmont, Neb.) was strong in the circle for Northeast in Game 2, allowing just six hits and one earned run while striking out six batters. Grad picked up two hits and recorded one RBI in the defeat.

On Sunday in the first-ever meeting for the Hawks against Northeast Iowa, Lauby was back in the circle and tossed another gem, allowing one earned run over seven innings of work. Grad continued her big weekend by picking up two RBIs while Wolters and Airalynn Barnes (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also recorded RBIs of their own.

In Game 2, Bailee Ahlemeyer (Cambridge, Neb.) blasted a home run and tallied two RBIs, but the Hawks surrendered two runs in the bottom of the seventh to split the day.

STAT SHEET GAME 1 AGAINST ELLSWORTH:

Isabel Raburn (W) (Holdrege, Neb.): 8 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 6 K

Ava Wolters (Omaha, Neb.): 2-4, 2 RBI

Hayley Grad (Medicine Hat, Alberta): 2-4, RBI, 2 R

STAT SHEET GAME 2 AGAINST ELLSWORTH:

Amy Lauby (Fairmont, Neb.): 6 IP, 6 H, ER, 6 K

Hayley Grad (Medicine Hat, Alberta): 2-3, RBI

Ava Wolters (Omaha, Neb.): 1-3

STAT SHEET GAME 1 AGAINST NORTHEAST IOWA:

Amy Lauby (Fairmont, Neb.): 7 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 K

Hayley Grad (Medicine Hat, Alberta): 2-3, 2 RBI

Airalynn Barnes (Colorado Springs, Colo.): 0-2, RBI

STAT SHEET GAME 2 AGAINST NORTHEAST IOWA:

Isabel Raburn (Holdrege, Neb.): 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 K

Bailee Ahlemeyer (Cambridge, Neb.): 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R

Emilee Sirdoreus (Laramie, Wyo.): 1-2, RBI, BB

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Softball Coach Erin Sharpe on the comeback in Game 1 against Ellsworth:

"We had a lot of fight in those last two innings," Sharpe said. "If we can play like that every day in every inning, people will not recognize us."

Sharpe on the weekend as a whole:

"We showed a lot of fight, but also a few weaknesses that we need to clean up," Sharpe said. I'm happy to be back on our home field and in our own beds where we are comfortable."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will host Iowa Lakes Community College in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk.

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