Mady Ott hit a pair of home runs, Kori Lincicum added another blast, and the Ankeny Centennial softball team swept a doubleheader against visiting Southeast Polk on Thursday.
The fourth-ranked Jaguars posted a 10-4 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 6-4 triumph. They improved to 5-1 in the CIML Conference and 8-3 overall, while No. 13 Southeast Polk’s records dropped to 2-4 and 6-8.
“The girls came out against a quality opponent and found a way to get two victories,” said Centennial coach Brett Delaney. “It was an interesting night weather-wise, because we haven’t seen a wind like that this year. We just had to battle that in the first game and then it gradually died down in the second game.”
Ott went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and five RBIs in the first game. She hit a grand slam to highlight a seven-run first inning for the Jaguars, who snapped Southeast Polk’s three-game winning streak.
Cora Boyle went 3-for-5 and drove in a run, while Lincicum went 2-for-4 and also had an RBI. Addi Starr and Makenna Foster knocked in runs as well.
Lauren Sandholm (3-2) earned the win, allowing no earned runs on seven hits over the first five innings. She had six strikeouts.
“Lauren threw well, but I would say it probably wasn’t her sharpest night of the year,” Delaney said. “But she found a way to grind out five innings and then we brought in Lily Bauch to relieve her and give her a little rest because we’ve got a long journey ahead of us this weekend.”
In the second game, Ott hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to break a 4-4 tie. It was her second home run of the night and the season.
Lincicum earlier hit a two-run blast to give Centennial a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
“They were seeing the ball well, and it was fun to see the ball flying off their bats,” Delaney said.
Lincicum went 2-for-3 and raised her average to .303. The sophomore leads the team with four homers.
“She worked really hard in the offseason, and for her size she swings a really good bat,” Delaney said of Lincicum. “It’s just been impressive to watch.”
Jessica Lathrop and Mary Brantley each went 2-for-3 in the win. Brantley also scored a run.
Boyle (5-0) scattered eight hits to remain unbeaten. She had three strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs.
The Rams wasted a big night from leadoff hitter Jesslyn Stairs, who went 6-for-7 in the doubleheader. She had three doubles and three singles.
Centennial will host non-conference doubleheaders against Waterloo West (1-10) on Friday and Linn-Mar (Marion) (4-8) on Saturday.
