HAWKS WIN NINTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH SWEEP OF CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY JV

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College softball team was again at home Thursday at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk to face off with Concordia University JV for a doubleheader. The Hawks (11-5) took the win in Game 1 by a score of 9-0 and followed that performance up with a 7-4 victory in Game 2.

In Game 1 starting pitcher Greta Lindberg (Tekamah, Neb.) was sharp as she tossed her second complete-game shutout of the week. Emilee Spitz (Columbus, Neb.) hammered a deep home run to give the Hawks a 6-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning and the Hawks never looked back.

Game 2 has tended to have tighter contests so far for the Hawks on the young season, and that trend continued yet again. Neither team scored through the first four innings, but the Bulldogs were able to push across four runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Hawks would rally back however as Brianna Aguilera (Pierce, Neb.) drove in two, Lindberg drove in one, Mia Eickhoff (Redondo Beach, Calif.) scored and Jade Koch (Norfolk, Neb.) added another to give the Hawks a 5-4 advantage at the end of five innings. Starting pitcher Josie Knust (Plattsmouth, Neb.) drove in two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Hawks the cushion needed to secure the win.

Infield defense was stellar for the Hawks during both games, including two impressive unassisted double plays from the starring first baseman Knust in Game 1 and the starting first baseman Aguilera in Game 2.

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH

Head softball coach Iris Woodhead's overall thoughts on where her team stands after winning their ninth straight game:

"We still have a lot of improvement to make," Woodhead said. "One of the big things we just talked about after the game there is figuring out after the first game how do you come back the second game with the same intensity? If we can just keep that Game 1 mentality in Game 2 I think we'll be okay."

Performances who Woodhead thought stood out:

"The infield looked phenomenal!" Woodhead said. "Dang! Shortstop (Alexis Folks) made some big plays, Lony (Alondra Martinez) at second base. B (Brianna Aguilera) had that diving catch at the end of the game there. Happy for Emilee (Spitz) how she came in and shut down the hitters. That's what we need to see from her from here on out. Josie (Knust) did good. We left a couple too many balls hanging in that fourth inning. As a staff I'm very pleased with what I saw."

Woodhead's thoughts on building upon these two wins as the team heads south for their next slate of games:

"We're going to have to go down and compete," Woodhead said. "Kansas schools have good softball programs down there. Metro won't be a cakewalk for us and Highland is typically a very good ballclub. We're going to have to go down there and compete. I think it's going to be good for us to get ready for conference."

UP NEXT

The Hawks will load up and head to Kansas City, Mo., and then Highland, Kan., for games against Metropolitan Community College and Highland Community College. The games against Metropolitan Community College are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, while the games against Highland Community College are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday.

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