Patient Regals ramble past Jesup, 7-1

IOWA CITY -- The Regina Regals saw a lot of pitches Friday night.

Hit a lot of them, too.

Patient and powerful, 11th-ranked Iowa City Regina blasted 11 hits and handled Jesup, 7-1, in a Class 2A regional quarterfinal softball game at Regina High School.

"Our pitch selection is better than it's been in the past," said Regina Coach Jon Prottsman. "We knew (Jesup pitcher Kelsey Lough) threw a lot of soft stuff. She makes you chase things. But we're more disciplined than we've been in the past."

The Regals forced Lough to throw 114 pitches -- 90 in the first four innings, when they did all of their damage -- and induced six full counts.

Regina (24-13) broke it open with four runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a tie-breaking two-run home run by Sydnay Lehman -- her first round-tripper of the season.

"My mom said I should hit one each year," Lehman said. "It's usually my goal if there's somebody on base to swing with everything I have."

Lehman's shot to left field gave the Regals a 3-1 advantage, then Megan Bonnett drove in a run with a ground out and Anna Corkery followed with an RBI single.

That made it 5-1, and that was more than enough for Kron, who pitched a four-hitter.

Kron missed last year's regional semifinal against Jesup, a game won by the J-Hawks -- who eventually reached the state tournament.

The Regals return to the regional semis; they'll face Denver (20-11) Monday at Van Horne.

Jesup retired at 26-14.

It was 1-1 before Regina's third-inning outburst in which it collected five hits. The Regals added two runs in the fourth; Julia Hunter and Kron collected back-to-back RBI singles.

Leadoff batter Ciarah Schlader reached base three times (two walks and a single) and scored each time.

AT IOWA CITY

Iowa City Regina    104 200 0 -- 7  11  2

Jesup                             100 000 0 -- 1   4  0

Sara Kron (W) and Kayci McChristy. Kelsey Lough (L) and Ally Flaucher, Mackenzie Miller (4). HR -- ICR: Sydnay Lehman.