Liberty softball claims a pair of 3-2 decisions over Prairie

NORTH LIBERTY — Iowa City Liberty has itself a pitching staff, not just a lone ace.

Kinsley Robertson more than held her own as a Game 2 option, holding Cedar Rapids Prairie without an earned run in the nightcap to complete a Mississippi Valley Conference softball sweep Tuesday night at Liberty High School.

The Class 5A eighth-ranked Lightning won both games, 3-2. The opener took nine innings.

“(Robertson) was outstanding,” Liberty Coach Jeff Kelley said. “That’s her fourth straight start like that.”

And that’s good news for the Lightning (14-5, 11-2 MVC), knowing they won’t have to lean too heavily on Kara Maiers for the stretch run.

“My drop is working pretty well,” said Robertson, a junior. “I’m starting to have a good sequence, and I’m more relaxed.”

The Lightning spotted Prairie (15-6, 12-4) the lead in both games. And both times, they rallied.

Down 1-0 in the seventh inning of the opener, Kennedy Daugherty had the first of two key doubles, a leadoff two-bagger to start a rally. She scored on Robertson’s single to get the Bolts even.

Prairie reclaimed the advantage on Carlie Goddard’s RBI single in the ninth, then Daugherty struck again.

After a double, an error and a stolen base put Ashlyn Geasland at third and Haley Schroeder at second, Daugherty doubled them both home on a 2-2 count for the win.

“I just told myself to relax, shorten up and see the ball,” Daugherty said. “I just wanted a base hit.”

Prairie scored a pair of first-inning runs in the second game, then the Lightning answered with three tallies in the bottom of the third.

Brynlee Slockett tripled, then Haleigh Smith (in the starting lineup for the first time), Daugherty and Robertson each delivered a run-scoring hit. Daugherty’s was a double, again.

From there, Robertson didn’t allow another baserunner past second base.

IOWA CITY LIBERTY 3-3, CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE 2-2 (1st, 9)

At North Liberty

Game 1

C.R. Prairie 000 100 001 — 2 5 2

I.C. Liberty 000 000 102 — 3 7 1

Megan Steffens, Dani Klees (9) and Jensyn Jones. Kara Maiers and Mischa Reiners, Olivia Davenport (5). W — Maiers (7-2). L — Steffens (8-1).

Game 2

C.R. Prairie 200 000 0 — 2 4 0

I.C. Liberty 003 000 x — 3 8 2

Dani Klees and Jensyn Jones. Kinsley Robertson and Olivia Davenport. W — Robertson (5-3). L — Klees (4-3).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com