After splitting a doubleheader on Wednesday at Ames, the Ankeny softball team is going to get back to work.
“We’re going to practice before our game on Thursday (at Clarke of Osceola),” said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. “Our goal is to outwork people. We’ll get better.”
Ames posted a 3-2 victory in the first game of the twinbill. The Hawkettes then responded with a 10-7 win in the nightcap.
Ankeny overcame a 6-4 deficit with three runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth. Zoe Baker hit her third home run of the season and had two RBIs.
“Zoe had a good night,” Bingham said. “She really crushed that homer into a very strong wind.”
Jasmine Rumley went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Anna Voigt also drove in two runs, going 2-for-4 with a double and a triple.
Madeleine Murphy and Shelby Romig each went 2-for-4 and combined to score three runs. Eva Fulk doubled and had one RBI.
“We had to battle back,” Bingham said. “We just need to figure out how to be more consistent. Once we do that, I think we’ll really take off.”
Kayla Brummer (1-1) earned the victory for the Hawkettes. She pitched the final 4 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits.
In the opener, Ankeny took a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Ames rallied. Marina Carter made her season debut for the Hawkettes and led off the game with a hit, but then got hurt again going into second base.
“She’s been out with a torn labrum,” Bingham said. “And now she got hurt again and had to leave the game, so she might be day-to-day. But she can be a dominant force for us, so we need to get her back.”
Paige Jacobsen (2-4) took the loss. She tossed a five-hitter and had three strikeouts.
Ames pitcher Jewels Buss scattered six hits and also had a home run.
“She’s a great player,” Bingham said of Buss. “That homer really changed the whole game.”
Baker went 2-for-3 and drove in both of Ankeny’s runs. Rumley doubled and scored a run.
“We need to score more runs,” Bingham said. “Our goal is to score at least seven runs every game.”
Ankeny is now 3-3 in the CIML Central Conference and 5-7 overall. Ames is 1-3 and 4-8.