No.9 KCC gets started in Minnesota

ROCHESTER, Minn. - The ninth-ranked Kirkwood softball team began the season Saturday with a pair of victories inside a cozy domed stadium in Rochester, Minn.

The Eagles blanked North Dakota State College of Science, 8-0, in their first game behind a one-hitter by Kori Wedeking, who finished with eight strikeouts in the five-inning contest.

Kirkwood topped Clarke University, 10-3, in its second outing as Payton Akers pitched four strong innings, allowing one run on one hit with six strikeouts. Austyn Crees, Reagan Schutte and Alecea Mendoza hit home runs for the Eagles.

Kirkwood dropped its final game Saturday, 6-3, to Clarke when the Crusaders scored four runs in the bottom of the last inning to overcome a 3-2 deficit. Sydney Albaugh socked a home run for the Eagles.

Shortstop Emilee Linder went 6-for-8 for Kirkwood in the three games with four runs and four RBIs. Schutte finished with five RBIs, all in the 10-3 victory over Clarke.