Kruse stays hot as Hounds down Washington

Junior Bloodhound has four homers in the last four games, including a grand slam

PCC SPORTS

FORT MADISON - Junior Erika Kruse homered for the third time in two days as Fort Madison rolled Washington in a doubleheader Monday.

Fort Madison swept Washington 11-1 and 8-2 at home for their fifth win in the last six games after losing three in a row to start the year.

Erika Kruse hit a grand slam to deep center in the bottom of the sixth to set the Bloodhounds up for the 10-run rule in the opener. The Hounds carried a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth when Taylor Johnson, Emily Steffensmeier, and Neeley Rehm all singled with no outs to start the inning.

Kruse then took the first pitch in the at-bat out of Hoskins Field to dead center for a 10-1 lead. Logan Johnson would follow with a double and then Lexi Whaley ground out to second, moving Johnson to third on the play. Lauryn Helmick then put down the squeeze, bringing Johnson in to invoke the 10-run rule.

Rehm got the win hurling all six giving up six hits, one run earned while striking out six for her second win of the season. Whaley had three hits on the night, while Steffensmeier and Elle Ruble each had two in the win.

Fort Madison took the nightcap 8-2. Helmick got the win tossing seven innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs, while fanning five and walking none.

Steffensmeier was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored in the win. Whaley also had two hits in the win, giving her five on the night. Logan Johnson, Ruble, and Elizabeth Tanner each had 2 RBIs for Fort Madison.

The Lady Hounds put up three runs in the bottom of the first and then were held scoreless until the fifth when they put up five more, highlighted by Ruble's 2-RBI triple to center with two outs that scored Whaley and McKenna Cashman.

Kruse homered twice in an 18-5 win over Fairfield Thursday. The junior went 4 of 5 at the plate in that win with three runs scored and seven RBIs. In the opener Thursday Kruse went 2-for-4 with another home run scored and 4 RBIs for a total of 11 RBIs in the doubleheader. The Hounds lost the opener Thursday 14-7.

Kruse's four homers are second best in Class 4A this season.

Fort Madison hosts Davenport West Wednesday in a double header starting at 5:30 and then travels to Keokuk on Thursday night for a double header with the Chiefs before wrapping up the week with a tournament at Davenport West.