The Ankeny softball team had to settle for a split on Thursday at Urbandale.
After the seventh-ranked Hawkettes posted a 2-1 victory in the opener of a CIML Conference doubleheader, Urbandale bounced back with a 3-2 win in the nightcap. The J-Hawks ended a 10-game losing streak to Ankeny.
“We’re still stuck in that hitting rut a little bit,” said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham. “We’re working our way out of it, and we actually did later in the (second) game. But it’s a lot easier to win when you score seven runs, so that’s still going to be our goal.”
Urbandale’s last win in the series came nearly five years ago, when it posted a 5-4 decision on June 10, 2019. The J-Hawks are now 2-4 in the conference and 8-8 overall, while Ankeny’s records are 4-2 and 6-6.
The Hawkettes won the first game behind Abby Rusher (4-3), who tossed a four-hitter. She walked none and racked up seven strikeouts on a night when the wind was gusting up to 30 mph.
“It’s kind of uncomfortable to pitch in strong winds like that, but you just have to work through it,” said Rusher. “It was fine.”
Ankeny took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Avery Nelson led off with a walk and stole second, then moved to third on a one-out single by Rusher.
Rusher entered the game with just one hit in 23 at-bats.
“That felt really good to get out of my slump,” she said. “I was proud of that.”
A walk to Lily Hans loaded the bases for Josie Parton, who hit a two-out single to center field to drive in Nelson and courtesy runner Alexa Enright.
“I was just looking to hit,” said Parton. “Any pitch down the middle or in the zone really. I knew I had three runners on and a full count, so I had to make some contact.”
Bingham was happy to see Parton come through in a clutch situation.
“It was a moment where you’ve got to find a way to win,” he said. “It seems like every game is a pitchers’ duel for us right now, and it was good to see Josie have a clutch moment.”
Urbandale got a run back in the fifth inning. Kyra Kain led off with a single and was bunted to second, then raced home on a single by Arabella Page.
Rusher then shut the J-Hawks down the rest of the way.
“Abby always pitches great,” Parton said. “I love to have her on my team. I’m always confident with her pitching.”
Rusher nearly had another hit in the sixth inning, when she smashed a ball through the hole on the right side. But she was thrown out by Kain, the J-Hawks’ right fielder.
“I guess my bad luck (with hitting) is going to follow me for a bit,” she said.
It didn’t matter, though, as the Hawkettes already had enough runs to secure the win.
“It feels great,” Parton said. “I’m really glad the team was able to pull it out.”
During the break between games, some of the Ankeny players refueled with a drink or something to eat. Parton had a different plan–she headed straight for the batting cage beyond the outfield fence for some extra hitting work.
“We’re really trying to make contact here the next game,” she said. “I’ve kind of been in a little bit of a slump, but I’ll work my way out of it.”
Parton had one of Ankeny’s seven hits in the nightcap, but the Hawkettes were unable to rally after Urbandale took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Aubrey Lensmeyer (2-3) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits over the first four innings before being replaced by Rusher.
Nelson went 2-for-4, while Autumn Leinen drove in both of Ankeny’s runs. Tenley Heidemann had a triple, and Ava Tomlinson added a double.
Bri Tigges led the way for Urbandale, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
The Hawkettes will play four games in the John Stephens Classic on Friday and Saturday at Creston.
