Petersen fans 14; Jefferson sweeps Dubuque Senior

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Now she doesn't have to go as long. So she can go harder.

Hannah Petersen pitched a 14-strikeout, four-hit shutout in the first game, and Class 4A eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson swept Dubuque Senior, 6-0 and 12-2, in a Mississippi Valley Conference softball double-header Tuesday night at Jefferson.

"Having Katie (Naber) back has been a major help, for the whole team, and for me," Petersen said. "Now I can put everything I have into one game."

Naber missed the first two weeks of the season, but she's back now, and Jefferson (11-2 overall, 7-0 MVC) is a little more complete.

Plagued by wildness at times through her career, Petersen didn't yield a walk Tuesday.

"She's more consistent this year," Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer said. "If you pitch a good game, it builds your confidence. Hopefully, she's more confident. She should be, because she's a good pitcher."

Rachel Sedlacek hit a home run in each game, scored four runs and drove in five.

"My swing is just working right now," Sedlacek said. "I just see it and hit it. Last Tuesday (a double-header sweep at Cedar Rapids Xavier) really helped."

Both games were competitive early before Jefferson stormed away late.

The J-Hawks led the first contest, 2-0, before tallying four times in the bottom of the sixth. Carson Burgart hit a two-run home run, then Sedlacek followed with a solo shot to virtually the same spot.

The nightcap was tied, 2-2, through three innings. But Jefferson scored three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, then ended it with six in the sixth. Burgart had a key two-run single in the big sixth.

Sedlacek ripped a two-run double in the second and a two-run homer in the fourth.

Senior is 10-5 overall, 6-4 in the MVC.

The last MVC unbeaten, Jefferson faces a key league twinbill Wednesday at home against Iowa City West.

"I'm not a conference guy, and I've never been a conference guy, but, yeah, those two games are pretty important," Niemeyer said.

AT C.R. JEFFERSON

Game 1

Dubuque Senior   000 000 0 -- 0  4  2

C.R. Jefferson        100 014 x -- 6  9  1

A.J. Medinger (L) and Kristie Sommer. Hannah Petersen (W) and Nicole Marquart. HR -- CRJ: Carson Burgart, Rachel Sadlacek.

Game 2

Dubuque Senior   011 000 -- 2  6  5

C.R. Jefferson        020 316 -- 12  9  2

Natalie Jacobsmeier (L), A.J. Medinger (6) and Kristie Sommer. Katie Naber (W) and Nicole Marquart. HR -- CRJ: Rachel Sedlacek.