Traynor, J-Hawks spoil Ankeny’s Senior Night by posting first conference victory

Ankeny’s McKenna Byers puts down a sacrifice bunt during Monday’s game against visiting Urbandale. Byers had one of the three hits for the Hawkettes, who dropped a 5-1 decision on their Senior Night. Byers was among the seniors who were recognized. (Photo by Scott Byers)

The Ankeny softball team was hoping to celebrate its Senior Night with a victory over visiting Urbandale on Monday.

Unfortunately, the J-Hawks picked a bad time to earn their first win in CIML Conference play.

Payton Traynor allowed just one unearned run on three hits and had five strikeouts to lead Urbandale to a 5-1 triumph over the Hawkettes. Traynor also went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs.

**Ankeny’s Brylee Bach slides across home plate to score her team’s lone run during Monday’s game. She had reached on a walk in the third inning. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

The J-Hawks improved to 1-15 in the conference and 5-18 overall. Ankeny’s records dropped to 5-10 and 9-14.

Urbandale’s Tatum Johnson went 2-for-2 with a double and a solo homer, her seventh of the season. Ali Aljets tripled and knocked in a run.

**Ankeny players (from left) McKenna Byers, Kensington Arringdale and Avery Nelson were honored on their Senior Night. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Emma Munger (3-9) took the loss. She allowed two earned runs on three hits over the first three innings.

Brylee Bach walked and scored Ankeny’s lone run in the third inning. She was knocked in by Sophie Schoeppner, who then took over in the circle in the fourth.

**Ankeny reliever Sophie Schoeppner throws a pitch during Monday’s game. (Photo by Scott Byers)**

Kensington Arringdale, Tenley Heidemann and McKenna Byers each had a hit for the Hawkettes, who were prevented from completing a sweep of the season series.

Ankeny will host a conference doubleheader against second-ranked Ankeny Centennial on Wednesday. The Jaguars are 14-1 in the league, 26-1 overall and riding a 19-game winning streak after posting a 5-3 victory over No. 6 Southeast Polk on Monday.

Centennial won the first meeting, 16-3, in four innings on June 1.