The night ended the way it started Thursday, with Jefferson holding a 1.5 game lead over Dubuque Hempstead in the MVC Valley Division softball standings.

Yet the J-Hawks inched closer to claiming that title.

Two was the winning number on the warm summer evening at the J-Hawk softball field. Both games were decided by two runs in 2-0 shutouts.

Jefferson took a 2-0 victory in the opener behind the left arm of junior ace Hannah Petersen and some timely hitting from sophomore Maddie Koolbeck and junior Carson Burgart.

Jefferson dropped the nightcap 2-0 after allowing two runs in poorly played first inning.

Jefferson (26-6, 19-2) holds the 1.5 game lead over second-place Hempstead (27-4, 18-4) with four games to play. The J-Hawks close their season with conference doubleheaders at Dubuque Wahlert and at Waterloo East next week. Hempstead has a doubleheader at Mississippi Division winner Waterloo West and another at home against Linn-Mar.

The nightcap started after a short ceremony to celebrate the three J-hawk seniors. The J-Hawks failed to realize that the celebration was over and it was time to play again as they struggled through the first inning.

The game started with an error by Burgart at shortstop and two straight walks issued by senior Katie Naber that load the bases.

Senior Hannah Koerperich capitalized right away for the Mustangs with an RBI sacrifice fly to get Hempstead on the board. The ‘Stangs added another run on an RBI single from senior Taylor Reidl.

“We were more interested in talking to the crowd in the second game then we were on playing,” Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer said. “One bad inning is all it takes.”

The first inning was all it took. Jefferson's bats were mostly silent during the game. The J-Hawks managed only four hits off sophomore Hailey Koerperich.

Naber scattered six Mustang hits.

In the opener, Jefferson’s Petersen gave up just three hits, walked none and struck out 10.

“Pete pitched very, very well,” Niemeyer said.

The J-Hawk bats were by no means hot as they managed just five hits, but they were able to put a few hits to together in the fourth to score two runs.

With one out in the fourth inning junior Kenna Fry singled and eighth grader Maddie Hanson reached on an error to put the J-Hawks in business. Koolbeck came through with an RBI single on a no-ball, two-strike pitch that scored pinch runner Hannah Towns. Burgart followed with an RBI single.

“I have gotten anxious (with runners in scoring position) in the past, I made sure I was calm and looked for a pitch I could drive,” Koolbeck said. “I got an inside pitch and tried to take it to the left side. I picked it up a little late, but managed to drop it into left center.”

“We got a break or two and took advantage of it,” Niemeyer said. “That is what you have to do against a good team.”

Petersen was 3-for-6 in the doubleheader.

“We don’t make the pitcher work enough,” Petersen said. “We need to wait for our pitch and not try to hit hers.”

Jefferson plays two games in Ottumwa on Friday.

GAME 1

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (0)
Amanda Hovind, RF, 3 0 1 0, Krista Grutz, 2B, 3 0 0 0, Hailey Koerperich, CF, 3 0 2 0, Hannah Koerperich, P, 3 0 0 0, Audrey Gronen, SS, 3 0 0 0, Taylor Reidl, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Hope Koerperich, C, 2 0 0 0, Lauren Kelleher, LF, 2 0 0 0, Jordan Albrecht, DP, 2 0 0 0, Alli Thein, 1B, 0 0 0 0. Totals 23 0 3 0.

JEFFERSON (2)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 3 0 1 0, Kailey Drake, CF, 3 0 0 0, Hannah Petersen, P, 3 0 1 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 3 0 1 0, Hannah Towns, pr, 0 1 0 0, Maddie Hanson, DP, 3 0 0 0, Katie Naber, pr, 0 1 0 0, Maddie Koolbeck, RF, 3 0 1 1, Ashley Madsen, pr, 0 0 0 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 2 0 1 1, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 2 0 0 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 24 2 5 2.

Hempstead 000 000 0 -  0 3 1
Jefferson    000 200 x -  2 5 0

Hannah Koerperich and Hope Koerperich. Petersen and Marquart. W – Petersen. L – Hannah Koerperich.

GAME 2

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (2)
Amanda Hovind, CF, 4 1 1 0, Krista Grutz, 2B, 3 0 0 0, Hailey Koerperich, P, 3 1 2 0, Hannah Koerperich, RF, 3 0 2 1, Audrey Gronen, SS, 3 0 0 0, Taylor Reidl, 3B, 2 0 1 1, Hope Koerperich, C, 3 0 0 0, Lauren Kelleher, LF, 3 0 0 0, Jordan Albrecht, DP, 2 0 0 0, Alli Thein, 1B, 0 0 0 0. Totals 26 2 6 2.

JEFFERSON (0)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 3 0 0 0, Kailey Drake, RF, 3 0 0 0, Hannah Petersen, RF, 3 0 2 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 3 0 0 0, Amber Grimm, DP, 2 0 0 0, Maddie Hanson, ph, 1 0 0 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 2 0 0 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 3 0 1 0, Katie Naber, P, 3 0 1 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 1 0 0 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 24 0 4 0.

Hempstead  200 000 0 -  2 6 1
Jefferson     000 000 0 -  0 4 1

Hailey Koerperich and Hope Koerperich. Naber and Marquart. W – Hailey Koerperich. L – Naber.