OTTUMWA — It was a close loss in game one and a shut out in game two for the Spartans Wednesday against Indian Hills in the NJCAA Region 11 Division I Softball Tournament semifinals.
The Warriors won the first game 4-3 and the second 10-0 in five innings, ending the Spartans’ season.
In game one, the Warriors put up their four runs early, scoring two in the first and one in each of the second and third innings.
The Spartans didn’t start scoring until the fourth inning when Erika Kruse knocked one out of the park to put SWCC on the board.
Emma Moore and Finley Spencer scored runs in the sixth off RBIs by Calie Allen and Kristen Streeter. Erika Kruse hit a home run.
Kruse pitched the whole game, striking out two batters and allowing four runs.
Needing at least one more run in the seventh to stay alive, the Spartans had three consecutive ground outs to end the game.
SWCC’s offense was shut out in game two, only Spencer and Brooklyn Hadl getting hits. The SWCC bullpen went through three pitchers, but none were able to stop the Warriors.
Southwestern ends the season 22-25 overall and 4-10 in ICCAC play.
Indian Hills led the ICCAC Division I softball conference at 13-2. Iowa Western was second at 10-4, Southeastern third at 8-8, the Spartans fourth at 4-10 and Marshalltown last with 0-11.
The program graduates nine sophomores.
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