Lady Hounds, Hawks split doubleheader

BY PCC STAFF

FORT MADISON - The Fort Madison Lady Hounds got their first win of the year in the first game of a twinbill in Fort Madison Tuesday night 11-2, but Central Lee left town with the nightcap 4-2.

Fort Madison had the tying run at the plate in the second game after Emily Steffensmeier doubled to the fence in right center with two outs, but Logan Johnson grounded out to short to end the game.

The Hounds also had things cooking in the bottom of the sixth with no outs. Neeley Rehm and Lexi Whaley both singled on hard grounders to left field to open the frame. Lauryn Helmick would then pop out to first base.

Then on a 2-2 pitch Erika Kruse flew out to right center. Central Lee's Meghan Hopp made the catch and threw in on a relay from second to short to double off Neeley Rehm who couldn't get back to the bag in time to tag up.

It was the second time of the game the Hounds got doubled off tagging at second.

Central Lee opened the scoring in the first inning off Hounds pitcher Lauryn Helmick. Macy Watkins walked to open the game and Halo Arrowood reached on an error before Shanna Buford laced a 2 RBI double to right. Helmick would then give up a single to Hopp and hit Makayla Morrison before enticing Abby Simmons into a pitcher-to-home-to-first double play with the bases loaded. Sophie Turner would then ground out to first end the threat.

The Hounds had two on and one out in the bottom half, but Whaley flew out to Hopp in center and Hopp quickly through to second to double off Taylor Johnson trying to tag up.

Fort Madison got it's two runs of the game on one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fourth. Whaley hit the first pitch she saw on a line drive over the left field fence with Rehm on at first. Helmick would draw a walk in the next at bat, but the Lady Hawks would get the next three Hounds in a row to end the inning.

Central Lee would get the winning run in the top of the 5th. Watkins would lead off with a walk and move to third on a sacrifice and a throwing error. Buford would draw a walk on four straight.

The Hounds would bring in Kruse to settle things down, but a wild pitch allowed Watkins to score what amounted to the game-winner. Buford advance to third after taking second without a throw and then scored on Morrison's single to short.

In the opener, Whaley highlighted the Hounds break out scoring with her first of two homers on the night.

As part of a six-run 2nd inning Whaley opened drawing a walk from Hopp. Lauryn Helmick would lay down a bunt moving courtesy runner Aija Jenkins all the way to third on a throwing error and Allyson Helmick would work another walk to load the bases. Jenkins would score on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead and everyone else would move up

A bunt by McKenna Cashman failed to move the runners. Then Kendall Beebe grounded to third and was able to reach with Helmick holding things up at third base. Emily Steffensmeier then doubled scoring the Helmick sisters and moving Beebe to third base. After a strikeout Kylee Cashman hit a 2 RBI double to left. Rehm would follow with another double to left scoring Cashman before Whaley ended the inning with a grounder to third.

Fort Madison would tack on two more in the bottom of the third on RBIs from Beebe and Steffensmeier. Then in the bottom of the 4th Whaley would turn on another pitch and send it over the left field fence with Taylor Johnson on for a 10-2 lead. Fort Madison would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Whaley doubled to left scoring Johnson again.

Whaley was 2 of 3 in the opener with 3 RBI and a run scored to lead Fort Madison. Rehm was 3 of 4 with an RBI. Emily Steffensmeier went 2-for-3 at the plate with 3 RBI and a run scored. Rehm got the win going the distance striking out six and giving up two runs, one earned on seven hits.

For Central Lee, Morrison was 3 of 3 with a run scored. Watkins, Arrowood, Simmons and Alix Congdon all had hits for the Hawks. Hopp took the loss going two innings and giving up six runs all earned on four hits. Tu

In the nightcap, Central Lee, Buford went 2 of 3 with 2 RBI and run scored to lead the Lady Hawks (4-1). Hopp, Morrison, Simmons and Carlee Pezley all had hits. Turner got the win going all seven and giving up eight hits and two earned runs, fanning two and walking one.

Fort Fort Madison Rehm was 3 of 3 with a run scored. Whaley was 2-of-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI. Lauryn Helmick took the loss going 4 1/3 giving up four runs, three earned on one strikeout and four walks. Kruse went 2 2/3 with no runs allowed on three Ks and three hits.