The Ankeny softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader on Tuesday at Johnston in familiar fashion.
The third-ranked Dragons scored a run in the sixth inning to post a 3-2 victory in the first game, which was completed after being suspended due to rain on Wednesday. They then got a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to rally for a 2-1 win in the nightcap.
Johnston also posted a 6-4 triumph at Ankeny on May 28, when the Dragons rallied for three runs in the seventh inning.
“They were all really close games,” said Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino. “It was some really good softball tonight. Our pitchers did phenomenal on the mound. They did a great job of keeping their hitters off-balance.”
Aubrey Lensmeyer (6-9) allowed two earned runs on five hits in the opener. She walked two and had six strikeouts.
Lensmeyer also went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored a run. Autumn Leinen went 2-for-2 and had one RBI, while Kaylyn Miller and Sarah Munger each had a double.
Johnston’s Grace Anderson went 2-for-2, scored a run and drove in another. Berkley McClish scattered six hits to earn the win.
In the second game, Miller (3-6) allowed two earned runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. She walked one and had two strikeouts.
Miller knocked in Ankeny’s lone run in the fourth inning. Brylee Bach doubled and scored for the Hawkettes.
“We did some small-ball (offense) to produce our runs, and we did some good situational things on the bases,” Saladino said. “And our defense was tough.”
Grayce Reiners and Chloe Helgeson each doubled and drove in a run for Johnston, which also got a three-hitter from Jensyn Tenpas. Tenpas needed just 63 pitches to go the distance.
The Dragons improved to 9-8 in the CIML Conference and 18-8 overall. Ankeny’s records fell to 5-11 and 9-15.
The Hawkettes will play a conference doubleheader at No. 4 Ankeny Centennial on Wednesday.