The Ankeny softball team got off to a good start at the Linn-Mar Invitational this weekend before scoring a total of just four runs in its last three games and falling to 11-20 on the season.
The Hawkettes opened the tournament on Friday with a 6-3 victory over Marion (16-14). Freshman Abby Buenzow made her first start of the season and got the win, allowing just three earned runs on five hits while recording three strikeouts.
Buenzow needed just 99 pitches to go the distance.
“Abby did great on the mound,” said Ankeny coach Sarah Saladino. “Our big thing with the pitchers is to try to keep their pitch counts down, and she did very well. I’m very proud of her performance.”
The top three batters in Ankeny’s lineup did most of the damage on offense, combining for five of the team’s six hits. Avery Nelson led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Leadoff hitter Morgan Fisher went 1-for-1 with a triple and three walks. She stole three bases, scored three runs and knocked in two more.
Sarah Munger added an RBI single in the win.
The Hawkettes then dropped a 6-1 decision to ninth-ranked Pleasant Valley. Macyn Bischoff tossed a two-hitter and had six strikeouts for the Spartans (17-10).
Ankeny was held scoreless until the seventh inning, when Kensington Arringdale hit a triple and eventually came home. Emma Munger had the Hawkettes’ only other hit.
Emma Munger allowed four earned runs on eight hits in the loss.
“We saw some teams from the eastern part of the state, and it was good to see some different competition,” Saladino said.
Ankeny played another opponent from that part of Iowa on Saturday, when the Hawkettes suffered a 5-1 loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Saints (16-12) are ranked ninth in Class 4A.
Buenzow (1-1) went the distance in the loss. She allowed five earned runs on five hits.
“We played Xavier tough,” Saladino said. “It was 2-1 until they opened it up late.”
Reagan Hogan went 3-for-3 at the plate for Ankeny. Arringdale doubled to drive in Fisher for the team’s only run.
The Hawkettes then closed out the tournament with a 7-2 loss to Johnston. The Dragons (14-17) earned their third straight win against Ankeny since dropping a 14-7 decision to their CIML Conference rival in the league opener on May 27.
Emma Munger (3-13) took the loss, despite allowing just one earned run on four hits over 3 2/3 innings.
Arringdale went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Sarah Munger hit a sacrifice fly to knock in a run.
Ankeny will host a conference doubleheader against No. 7 Dowling Catholic on Monday. The Maroons are 7-11 in the league and 15-12 overall.
The Hawkettes posted an 11-9 win at Dowling in the completion of a suspended game on Tuesday, but have dropped six of seven games since.
“It’s going to be a very hot week, but we’ll be ready for it,” Saladino said.