The Cedar Rapids Washington softball team hasn’t had a dream season by any means. Struggling to keep pace, the Warriors were sitting at an overall 3-24 record coming into Tuesday night. They proceeded to take the field against Cedar Rapids Kennedy and the sour taste vanished completely.

In a doubleheader at Washington Softball Field, the Warriors swept the Cougars, winning the first game 12-1 in 5 innings and the nightcap 7-6.

“These kids have been working hard for three or four years now and I think we are starting to see it all come to a head. It’s the first time we have been playing good defense and good offense and putting it all together,” said Warrior Coach Fanaye Wooldrik.

Washington (5-24, 3-17) came out in the opener playing with conviction, as they sprayed hits all over the field, collecting 10 in the short game. When the Warriors scored, they scored in bunches, plating five runs in the second inning and seven runs in the fourth.

“I always expect them to hit,” said Wooldrik. “Whether they do it or not is something else, but they are starting to get a little confidence in themselves and hits are contagious. Once one person started going then they all went.”

Leadoff hitter Gail Barnum led the Warriors offensively, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs. Pitcher Kirsten Peterson also contributed, collecting two hits and two RBIs.

On the mound, Peterson went all five innings and only allowed one Kennedy run on three hits.

The nightcap proved to be a tighter game. The Cougars came out and attacked early taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The teams went back and forth, sending base rips all over the diamond. Each team ended up with 14 hits.

Kennedy (5-26, 2-18) kept the lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Peterson knocked in a game-tying single to knot the score at 6.

Washington proceeded to hold Kennedy in the sevent, and ended the game when Hannah Schroeder belted a walk off double, plating Sam Short to give the Warriors the win, 7-6.

“We came out in the second game and got a little overanxious,” said Wooldrik. “But each person stepped in and did what they could and got base hits. We kept battling and found a way to win.”

Washington was led in the nightcap by Schroeder and Bria Lenten, each collecting three hits.

Heather McKinnon paced Kennedy going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Washington hosts Waterloo West for a doubleheader on Thursday and Kennedy travels to Cedar Falls for two games.  

Game 1

KENNEDY (1)
Flesner, ss, 3 0 0 0, Kubovec, c, 3 0 0 0, Nunnikhoven, p, 3 0 0 0, Gaffey, 3b, 3 1 2 0, McKinnon, lf, 2 0 0 0, Rathjens, rf, 2 0 1 1, Coker, 1b, 2 0 0 0, McQuiston, cf, 2 0 0 0, Wagner, 2b, 2 0 0 0  Totals  22 1 3 1. 

WASHINGTON (12)
Barnum, lf, 4 1 3 4, Lenten, 3b, 4 0 0 0, K. Peterson, p, 3 2 2 2, Pilcher, cf, 3 1 2 1, Short, c, 3 1 0 0, Schroeder, 1b, 3 2 0 0, Cook, dh, 3 1 0 0, Carr, ss, 3 2 1 2, Riley, rf, 3 2 2 1 C. Peterson, 2b  Totals  29 12 10 10.

Kennedy           000 10 -  1    3  4
Washington       050 7x - 12  10 0 

Nunnikhoven and Kubovec. K. Peterson and Short.  W – Peterson.  L – Nunnikhoven.  2B - Barnum 2, K.Peterson.  3B - Pilcher.  


Game 2

KENNEDY (6)
Flesner, ss, 5 0 0 0, Kubovec, c, 5 1 2 0, Nunnikhoven, cf, 4 0 1 0, Gaffey, 3b, 4 1 2 1, Rathjens, rf, 4 1 1 0, McKinnon, lf, 4 1 3 2, Coker, 1b, 4 1 2 0, Sohn, p, 4 1 2 1, Wagner, 2b, 4 0 1 1.  Totals  38 6 14 4.

WASHINGTON (7)
Barnum, lf, 4 0 0 0, Lenten, 3b, 4 1 3 0, K. Peterson, 2b, 4 0 1 1, Pilcher, cf, 4 1 2 1, Short, c, 4 2 1 0, Schroeder, 1b, 4 1 3 1, Cook, dh, 3 1 1 1, Carr, ss, 3 0 2 1, Riley, rf, 3 1 1 0 C. Peterson, p, 0 0 0 0.  Totals  33 7 14 5. 

Kennedy           010 311 0 -   6  14  1
Washington       010 131 1 -   7  14  1 

Sohn and Kubovec. C. Peterson, K. Peterson(5) and Short.  W – K. Peterson.  L – Sohn.  2B - Rathjens, McKinnon 2, Wagner, Schroeder.  SB- Schroeder.