Laux slows J-Hawks in MVC split

CEDAR RAPIDS -- This time, the break worked in Mackenzie Laux's favor.

Twice, rain postponed Iowa City West's softball double-header with Cedar Rapids Jefferson. That gave Laux time to heal from an offseason injury.

Laux pitched 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, then settled for a three-hitter as Class 4A seventh-ranked West managed a Mississippi Valley Conference split with a 3-1 win in the nightcap Monday at the Jefferson Softball Complex.

No. 6 Jefferson won the opener, 2-1.

"I broke my right hand a couple months ago, trying to bunt a ball in spring ball," Laux said. "I was out the first two weeks of the season, and I wouldn't have played if we played when we were supposed to."

Laux was an all-state pitcher at Pekin High School last year, before moving to Iowa City.

"I'm surprised I'm doing as well as I am," she said. "The competition at this level is so much harder. The batters are better."

West (15-5 overall, 10-4 MVC) scored single tallies in the first, third and sixth innings. Alise Miller drove in two runs -- one on a single, the other on a squeeze bunt.

The J-Hawks (17-4, 10-1) got the tying run to the plate in the sixth and seventh, but couldn't capitalize.

Jefferson's Hannah Petersen had a three-hitter of her own in Game 1.

Kenna Fry's RBI single got the J-Hawks on the board in the bottom of the first, and it remained 1-0 until Rachel Sedlacek scored on a sixth-inning error.

West got a run and the potential equalizer to second base in the seventh before Petersen got out of trouble.

"Pete threw very well," said Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer. "She hit her spots well. When she's on, she's pretty tough to beat."

AT C.R. JEFFERSON

Game 1

Iowa City West   000 000 1 -- 1  3  2

C.R. Jefferson     100 001 x -- 2  6  0

Shelly Stumpff (L) and Lauren Larson. Hannah Petersen (W) and Danielle Marquart.

Game 2

Iowa City West   101 001 0 -- 3  6  0

C.R. Jefferson     000 001 0 -- 1  3  0

Mackenzie Laux (W) and Michaela Recker. Katie Naber (L) and Danielle Marquart.