Linn-Mar softball makes another statement, closes MVC at 28-2

NORTH LIBERTY — It was somewhat of a loaded question, but also a fair one:

Is this team underrated?

Lindsey Murray wouldn’t bite.

“I don’t want to get in trouble,” she said. “But I’ll say this ... there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re a competitive team, and we’re ready to show everybody.”

Competitive? The Lions are much more than simply competitive.

Jordyn Beck scattered five hits in the first game, Kaylee Bunn delivered a three-run seventh-inning double in Game 2, and Class 5A 10th-ranked Linn-Mar swept No. 12 Iowa City Liberty, 2-1 and 7-6, as the Mississippi Valley Conference softball season concluded Thursday night at Liberty High School.

“We’re a good team, and we’re ready to make a big statement,” Beck said after the Lions moved to 33-4 overall and finished 28-2 in the MVC.

“Our connection is really good. If somebody strikes out, the next girl is going to pick them up. We don’t just have one person we rely on.”

The nightcap was a back-and-forth affair, and Bunn had the closing statement.

The Lions entered the top of the seventh facing a 5-4 deficit, but a double by Hannah Gralund, a Liberty error and a walk to Grace McCarty gave Bunn her big opportunity.

She delivered with a blast down the right-field line that scored three.

“I was nervous, obviously,” Bunn said. “We needed a big hit. I’m glad I came through for them.”

“Kaylee was ready,” Murray said. “You could tell she was confident in her swing.”

The Lions have struck out just 77 times in 37 games, basically twice per contest.

That includes eight times in Thursday’s opener, none in the finale. That’s uncommonly good contact.

“We practice a lot of batting,” Bunn said. “A lot off the machine, front toss, tee drills.”

Kennedy Daugherty put Liberty (25-12, 20-9) in front with a two-run homer in the fifth.

The Lions spent much of the offseason in hunger mode after suffering an extra-inning loss to Cedar Rapids Prairie in the regional semifinals last year.

“You can just feel the hunger in this group,” Murray said. “I consider myself a pretty humble person, but I knew we were going to be pretty good. They’re so tenacious.”

Bunn’s sacrifice fly broke a scoreless tie in the second inning of Game 1, then Megan Heidelbauer’s RBI double gave the Lions an insurance run that turned out to be necessary.

Liberty scored a run in the seventh and had runners at second and third with one out before Beck got out of it.

“I was hitting the corners consistently, spinning the ball,” she said. “Those girls are up there to kill it, so you’ve got to throw hard and hope it moves.”

Lightning Coach Mike Morrison said, “For 13 innings, I was pretty pleased. We were gritty. We were making plays. But in the seventh inning (of Game 2), we didn’t.”

Liberty senior Ava Fort made her first start of the season. Fort, who underwent hip surgery in the offseason, was in left field for the first pitch of the game, then was replaced by Daugherty.

Linn-Mar 2-7, Iowa City Liberty 1-6

AT NORTH LIBERTY

Game 1

Linn-Mar 010 000 1 — 2 6 1

Iowa City Liberty 000 000 1 — 1 5 0

Jordyn Beck and Madi Wells. Kinsley Robertson and Mischa Reiners. W — Beck (17-2). L — Robertson (12-6).

Game 2

Linn-Mar 011 020 3 — 7 10 3

Iowa City Liberty 011 030 1 — 6 11 2

Emily Koranda and Madi Wells. Kennedy Daugherty and Ava Donnelly. W — Koranda (14-1). L — Daugherty (12-6). HR — ICL: Daugherty (6).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com