No.7 Eagles split with Ellsworth

First the bats were quiet for the Kirkwood softball team, then they came alive after being upset in Game 1.

The choppy performance cost the seventh-ranked Eagles a victory against a team that has struggled much of the season.

Ellsworth stunned Kirkwood, 3-2, in the first game of their ICCAC doubleheader at the Kirkwood field, costing the Eagles a valuable game in the league standings.

Kirkwood rebounded with a 20-2 victory in five innings in the nightcap.

The split left the Eagles at 37-10 overall and 26-6 in the conference, dropping them two games behind DMACC in the loss column in the ICCAC race. Ellsworth is 15-23 overall and 10-20 in the league.

Kori Wedeking (20-3) suffered the loss in the first game. She allowed three runs on nine hits, with eight strikeouts.

Sydney Albaugh hit a home run and drove in both runs for Kirkwood in the opener. Randyn Carter was 3-for-4. Angie Gorkow was 2-for-2.

The Eagles belted four homers in the 20-2 verdict. Albaugh hit her 20th home run of the season. Peggy Klingler went 3-for-4 and socked a grand slam. Austyn Crees was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Alli Ferrari hit a home run and had three RBIs. Olivia Richards also drove in three runs.

Payton Akers (12-4) pitched the first three innings for the victory.