Iowa Central knocks off top-seeded Kirkwood on opening day of regional softball tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS — Kirkwood softball coach Eric Frese has a basic message for his players.

The Eagles will keep it simple. Forget about the big picture and focus on the snapshots of each moment until they are done.

“We just have to go play the next pitch,” Frese said. “Once those first seven innings are done, hopefully, you look at the scoreboard and you have more runs than your opponent. Then, you try to do it again.”

Fourth-seeded Iowa Central scored two runs in the top of the seventh and limited top-ranked Kirkwood’s rally in the bottom half to hold on for a 3-2 victory in the second round of the NJCAA Region 11-A Division II softball tournament Friday at Kirkwood. The Tritons advance to the winner’s bracket final, waiting the winner of the elimination game between the Eagles and No. 7 Ellsworth.

“It’s a tough one-run defeat,” Frese said. “Tough day to hit, obviously. I thought we squared up a few balls early in the game that any other day would be way out of here but just didn’t carry.

“It was one of those days you had to execute the little things. Unfortunately for us, we haven’t fielded a ball very well all year and it came back to bite us in the butt once again.”

Both teams engaged in a pitcher’s duel on an overcast day with sprinkles and the wind blowing in keeping balls from carrying in the air. Kirkwood’s Kara Maiers and Iowa Central’s Riley Gilroy prevented big innings. Maiers struck out seven, while Gilroy only had four.

The Tritons (31-24-1) were able to string hits together with three consecutive singles after No. 9 hitter Aleena Sandy reached on a one-out error. Amber McKinney smacked a bases-loaded base hit to score two for a 3-1 lead. McKinney led the Tritons with two hits.

Kirkwood answered in the bottom of the seventh. Former Linn-Mar prep Chelsea Buck hit a leadoff double down the left-field line. Annie Gahan followed with a walk to put the tying run at first.

Neveah Hildebrandt’s sacrifice fly chased home Buck, but a strikeout and groundout ended it.

“Whoever gets that lead, especially late, has a little bit of momentum,” Frese said. “That goes a long way in a fast seven-inning game.

“It makes you feel good. Even for us in the bottom of the seventh, the leadoff double just chilled everybody out a little bit. It’s just different when you get that first out, second out and the pressure gets bigger. That’s how it goes.”

Both teams scored one run in the third. Peggy Klingler hit an RBI single to drive in Grace Lubben to tie the game, 1-1. It was one of the Eagles’ rare key hits.

“She delivered,” Frese said. “She’s done that her whole career. She’s a great postseason player.”

Gahan led the Eagles with two hits. Kirkwood (38-16) plays Ellsworth, which lost to Iowa Central, 11-3, in six innings in the tournament opener.

“We’ll do the best we can,” Frese said. “We’ll keep fighting.”

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