The Ankeny softball team ran into a buzzsaw on Monday night.
Top-ranked Valley extended its winning streak to 15 games by sweeping a doubleheader at No. 6 Ankeny. The Tigers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to post a 16-4 victory in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 7-3 triumph.
Valley moved into a four-way tie for first place in the CIML Conference along with No. 2 Waukee Northwest, No. 4 Ankeny Centennial and No. 5 Johnston. The Tigers are now 11-3 in the league and 28-4 overall, while Ankeny’s records dropped to 8-8 and 19-16.
“Valley did a good job of putting the ball in play,” said Ankeny coach Dave Bingham, whose team has now completed its league schedule. “It was the first time that our pitching wasn’t up to where it’s been. But it was better in the second game.”
Kaylyn Miller (0-1) took the loss in the nightcap. She allowed three earned runs on five hits over the first 2 2/3 innings.
“We started Miller, and she did a good job,” Bingham said. “(Abby) Rusher and (Aubrey) Lensmeyer kept it in check, but we just couldn’t hit enough to score.”
Miller, Gracyn Adams and Lily Hans each had an RBI in the second game. Morgan Fisher added a double.
Valley’s Claire Long went 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBIs. Ireland Broderick went 3-for-4 and scored three times.
In the first game, Valley scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. The Tigers then added five runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and seven more in the seventh.
Mackenzie Mohler went 3-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs to lead the way. Marin Heller and Long each had three hits and drove in three runs.
Rusher (12-7) took the loss. She allowed six earned runs on eight hits over four-plus innings.
“We scored early in the first game and were playing pretty well,” Bingham said. “We had them shut out through three innings, and then the wheels came off.”
The Hawkettes scored all of their runs via homers. Lensmeyer went 2-for-3 and had a solo blast in the first inning, her team-leading eighth of the year.
Hans hit another solo homer in the second inning, her second of the season. Ava Tomlinson added a two-run shot in the sixth, her fourth.
“We have to learn from this one,” Bingham said. “Valley played really well, but we haven’t had any nights like this. Hopefully, we’ll see them again.”
Ankeny will travel to Carlisle on Friday to play non-conference games against the host Wildcats (26-8) and Dubuque Wahlert (22-8). Carlisle is the No. 9 team in Class 4A, while Wahlert is ranked third in Class 3A.
