Softball: Saints' offense potent in sweep of Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS - Hot bats on a hot night were the ticket for the Cedar Rapids Xavier girls' softball team in a sweep of Cedar Rapids Kennedy on the Saints' diamond, 8-2 and 6-3, on Tuesday night.

The Saints pounded out 11 hits in the opener, staking starting pitcher Jacey Wiebold to an early six-run lead. Jamie Feltes had two hits, and Jenna Schulte had two doubles for Xavier.

In the second game, Xavier had seven hits in support of pitcher Erin Drahozal, who scattered five hits in leading the Saints to the sweep.

Drahozal helped her cause with a solo home run high off the scoreboard in the fourth inning, and Haley Deutmeyer added three hits for the Saints (10-10).

The Saints' defense committed no errors in the doubleheader.

“We were able to put the pieces together tonight, and it really showed,” Saints coach Nikki Price said. “The pitching was good, [and] our defense was outstanding as we [made] some great plays along with routine putouts.”

Price was also happy with the offensive production.

“We were hitting and attacking at the plate, all which were huge in the wins tonight,” she said. “It really was great to see it all come around the way we wanted.”

Offense has been a problem for the 7-18 Cougars, Kennedy coach Katie Bova said.

“It was tough tonight, especially on offense,” she said. “We have been struggling at the plate, and tonight it showed.”

The Cougars got a two-run home run by Amanda Gaffey in the fourth inning of the nightcap to trim the deficit to 3-2.

But their seven stranded base runners baffled the coach.

“You can't do that and be successful,” Bova said. “That's seven opportunities to score that are wasted. We then lose by three.”

It doesn't get any easier for either team. Xavier will host Burlington Wednesday night before playing in the Linn-Mar-Alburnett tournament this coming weekend.

The Cougars will travel to Jefferson for a Thursday night battle with the J-Hawks.

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