#7 Eagles Take Down Redtails

Cedar Rapids, IA- The 7th-ranked Kirkwood Eagles welcomed the Hawkeye Redtails for a doubleheader in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. The Eagles were riding an 18-game win streak heading into Wednesday and were looking to keep it going.

In the first game of the day, Peyton Paulsen started in the circle for the Eagles. The starting pitcher pitched 5 innings, striking out 10 batters, allowing only 4 hits and 2 runs. Kirkwood tallied 18 hits in the game. Brenna Ross, McKenzie Kissell, Sophia Kreutner, Sydney Roe, Peyton Johnson, and Lexi Hines each collected two hits for Kirkwood. Hines hit two home runs for the Eagles and drove in 6 runs. Sydney Roe was the first to put Kirkwood on the board, hitting a home run in the bottom of the 1st. The Eagles then scored 5 runs on 5 hits in the bottom of the 2nd to balloon their lead. They would score 4 more in the bottom of the 3rd and cap it off with 8 more runs on 7 hits in the bottom of the 4th. Kirkwood would win the game in 5 innings by a score of 19-2. 

The second game would be a lot like the first for the Eagles. It was Natalie Vitek starting pitching for the Eagles in this one. She pitched all 5 innings for the Eagles, striking out 8, and allowing 4 hits and 4 runs (zero earned). Kirkwood mirrored their first game with 18 hits in the game. Kiya Johnson would hit two home runs in the game. Although the Redtails got off to a better start in this game, scoring 4 runs in the top of the first, they would be stifled the rest of the game. Kirkwood would start by tying the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the first thanks to a double by Sydney Roe and a home run to center field by Sailor Hall. The Eagles would then take the lead in the bottom of the 2nd thanks to home runs by Grace Zaugg and Peyton Johnson. Kirkwood would really open it up in the bottom of the 3rd inning, scoring 10 runs on 7 hits. The game would be done in 5 innings for the second time of the day with the Eagles coming out on top, 20-4. 

Next up for the #7 Eagles is Ellsworth and (RV) Iowa Central this weekend.