COLUMBUS – Northeast Community College softball split a doubleheader with Central Community College here Monday. Northeast bounced back from a 13-5 loss in the opener to win the second game, 10-5.
Coach Iris Woodhead attributed the opening loss to physical and mental errors. Central scored seven runs in the first inning, and Northeast responded in the second with four.
“Leah (Grovijohn) came up huge for us with a two-out base clearing double, but essentially we dug ourselves in too big of a hole,” said Woodhead. “(Central pitcher) Jayd Roberts did a great job of keeping our hitters off balance, but we helped out her cause with poor pitch selection as well.”
In addition to the double, Grovijohn batted 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Amy Rogers went 1-for-3 with a home run and RBI, while Ashley Gilsdorf batted 1-for-1 with a run and two base-on-balls. Alyson Romey finished 2-for-3.
In the second game, Woodhead said the team “looked a little more like ourselves.”
Northeast scored a run in the first inning, but bad pitch selection again plagued the Hawks and kept them scoreless until a sixth-inning comeback.
“Kelsie Myers did a great job if getting us going in the sixth with a leadoff double, and the girls didn’t turn back,” said Woodhead. “It was nice that we were finally able to capitalize on some timely hits and errors, instead of vice versa.”
Romey batted 3-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and a double. Paige Schmidt (2-for-4), Grovijohn (2-for-4) and Ashley Gilsdorf (2-for-4) also finished with two runs each, and Kianna Garza, batting 3-for-4, had one run, two RBIs and a base-on-ball.
“(Schmidt) pitched a great game, and our defense did a good job of sticking behind her,” said Woodhead. “I’m pleased with the amount of fight we showed (in) game two for her. We were hit with some adversity and were able to persevere.”
The Hawks, now 2-6, play Southeast Community College on Tuesday, March 8 in a doubleheader at Beatrice. Game times are 3 and 5 p.m.