DAVENPORT - The seventh-ranked Kirkwood softball team began the 2019 season with a pair of victories at the Winter Dome Tournament in Davenport Saturday.

The Eagles topped the St. Ambrose junior varsity, 8-5, and whipped John Wood Community College, 12-3.

The games marked the debut of new Kirkwood Coach Eric Frese, who succeeded Joe Yegge after Yegge left to become an assistant at DePaul.

Jayme Finn, Skylar Ryan and Randyn Carter had two hits in the victory over St. Ambrose. Rachel Stewart and Finn scored twice. London Jackson drove in three runs.

Erin Hocker pitched five shutout innings for the victory in Game 1. She allowed only three hits, with two strikeouts and no walks.

Taleah Smith and Stewart had two hits against John Wood. Smith, Stewart, Jackson and Carter scored twice. Lauren Kuch and Sydney Albaugh had three RBIs and Jackson had two RBIs.

Bradee Bouman was the winning pitcher in Game 2. All three of John Wood's runs against her were unearned.

Kirkwood has two more games in the tournament on Sunday.

GAME 1

Kirkwood           122 021 0 - 8 12 1
St. Ambrose JV     000 003 2 - 5 7 x

W - Hocker.

GAME 2

John Wood          200 10 - 3 7 x
Kirkwood           230 7x - 12 7 4

W - Bouman.