Softball team leads nation in homers

OTTUMWA - The Kirkwood Eagles are the most powerful softball team in the nation.

The seventh-ranked Eagles belted nine home runs Sunday and swept Indian Hills, 9-2 and 6-1, in an ICCAC doubleheader in Ottumwa.

Kirkwood has socked 87 homers in 43 games, the most homers by any NJCAA Division II team in the nation and an average of slightly more than two homers per game.

Sydney Albaugh hit two round-trippers and drove in four runs in the 9-2 victory in Game 1. Peggy Klingler, Reagan Schutte and Austyn Crees also hit home runs.

Olivia Richards was 2-for-4 and scored twice in the opener. Albaugh was 2-for-4 and scored twice. Schutte drove in two runs. Brooke Kilburg had two hits.

Kori Wedeking (19-2) pitched a four-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks in the first game. She leads the nation in victories.

Klingler, Crees, Jessie Frasher and Randyn Carter hit solo home runs for the Eagles in Game 2. Payton Akers (10-4) pitched a complete game for the victory with nine strikeouts.

Kirkwood won the four-game series at Indian Hills, 3-1. Indian Hills fell to 29-11 overall and 21-9 in the conference.

DMACC leads the league at 23-3, with Kirkwood in second place at 23-5. The Eagles are 34-9 overall.