It wasn’t ideal for the Ankeny softball team to be entering postseason play on the heels of a six-game losing streak.
The lack of momentum didn’t seem to bother Aubrey Lensmeyer.
The junior combined with Abby Rusher on a three-hitter and also hit a home run to lead the ninth-ranked Hawkettes to a 6-2 victory over visiting Waterloo West in a Class 5A regional semifinal on Saturday.
“It was tough having a six-game losing streak, but we came in with love and gratitude, clear and confident minds, and we knew we could get the job done,” said Lensmeyer.
Rusher (13-10) allowed two unearned runs on two hits over the first four innings before Lensmeyer took over in the pitcher’s circle. She cruised through the final three innings, allowing just one hit while recording four strikeouts.
“Right before the game, (coach Dave) Bingham was telling me for every game now and forward I have to be ready to come in,” Lensmeyer said. “Pitch like it’s the College World Series.”
Bingham said he has confidence in both of his hurlers.
“Aubrey would be ready to go in the first (inning), and Abby can, too,” he said. “We just have to see what is going on, but what a great problem to have when you’ve got two really good pitchers. They both have to be ready, and I’m fine with either one of them.”
Lensmeyer hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend Ankeny’s lead to 4-2. She then crushed a two-run homer in the sixth to seal the win.
It was her team-leading ninth blast of the season.
“I knew it was gone right off the bat. It felt so good,” Lensmeyer said. “It was a nice pitch like middle out–one to just drive over.”
Avery Nelson went 2-for-3 and had one RBI as Ankeny evened its record at 20-20. Morgan Fisher went 1-for-1 with two walks, scored two runs and knocked in two more.
Waterloo West finished the season at 12-21.
“This is the time of year if you do some routine things, good things will happen,” Bingham said. “We got some bunts down there early to get those first few runs. You’d like to get those six runs earlier, but we were threatening every inning so that was good. Their pitcher was unique, and teams have struggled with her. We were well prepared, but it took us awhile to figure her out.”
Ankeny took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. The Hawkettes had three hits in the rally, but also capitalized on two Waterloo West errors.
The Wahawks answered with two runs in the top of the fourth. Peyton Stefancik drove in one run with an infield single, then Jocelyn Syharath followed with an RBI grounder.
But Waterloo West left a runner stranded at third and never threatened again.
“We’ve been in some close games,” Bingham said. “You just have to be able to close it out, and we did a good job of that tonight. You get the win, and now some magical things can happen. I think this team is on a mission, and I’m excited about it.”
The Hawkettes will host No. 10 Southeast Polk (20-20) in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Rams used a three-run rally in the fourth inning to beat Cedar Falls, 6-5, on Saturday.
“I’m confident we can beat any team,” Lensmeyer said.
The CIML Conference rivals split a doubleheader on June 20 at Southeast Polk. Ankeny rolled to a 12-5 win in the opener before the Rams rebounded with a 13-3 triumph in six innings.
This will be third time in five seasons that the two teams have met in regional play. Southeast Polk posted a 12-9 win in a semifinal in 2020 and then edged Ankeny, 4-3, in a final two years ago.
“There will be no secrets,” Bingham said. “They’ve got three or four good hitters, and they do the little things well. But if we execute, I expect us to win.”
