Ankeny’s duo of Aubrey Lensmeyer and Cassie Johnson proved to be double trouble for the Waukee softball team on Wednesday.
Lensmeyer hit two home runs in the first game to lead Ankeny to a 7-1 victory, then Johnson blasted a pair of roundtrippers as the fifth-ranked Hawkettes completed a sweep of a CIML Conference road doubleheader with a 12-3 win in the nightcap.
It was the season opener for Waukee (0-2).
“We had a lot of fun,” said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham, whose team improved to 2-1 overall. “We’re a really good team, and we were able to get the bats going.”
Lensmeyer went 2-for-4 in the opener. She hit a solo homer in the third, then later added a three-run blast in the seventh.
Avery Nelson went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in Ankeny’s first two runs.
“Nellie had a good game,” Bingham said.
Abby Rusher earned the victory, tossing a four-hitter with eight strikeouts. She evened her mark at 1-1.
“Abby pitched great,” Bingham said. “We gave up an unearned run, and that was really all she gave up.”
In the second game, Lensmeyer (1-0) allowed just two earned runs on four hits. She walked seven and had 10 strikeouts.
“She gave up one hit through six innings before giving up a late homer,” Bingham said. “She pitched really well, and she would tell you she didn’t even have her best stuff. I’m really proud of her.”
Johnson and Kensington Arringdale combined to go 9-for-9 in the win. Johnson went 4-for-4 with a walk, two homers and five RBIs.
Arringdale was just as productive, going 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles. She knocked in two runs.
“Those two were pretty good,” Bingham said.
Lily Hans had two RBIs for the Hawkettes. Josie Parton and Autumn Leinen each doubled and drove in a run.
“We really grinded in the bottom of the order,” Bingham said. “And we scored seven runs in the seventh inning, so that was a nice way to finish out the night.”
Ankeny will play two games in the Johnston Invitational on Friday, beginning with a matchup against No. 1 Ankeny Centennial at 10 a.m.
