Metro Sports Report

No .5 Eagles swept by No. 11 Illinois Central

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The fifth-ranked Kirkwood softball team was swept by 11th-ranked Illinois Central, 3-0 and 6-5 in 10 innings, in the final games of the regular season Tuesday on the road.

Kirkwood (43-11) collected only two hits in the first game.

Kenady Waugh, sidelined the last two weeks with a knee injury, returned to action for the Eagles and went 3-for-4 and scored twice in the second game.

DoniRae Mayhew had two hits and two RBIs in the nightcap. She leads  NJCAA Division II with 81 RBIs. Lauren Kuch also had two hits and two RBIs.

Natalie Halvorson (23-8) was the losing pitcher in both games. She was the starting pitcher in Game 1 and a relief pitcher in Game 2.

Moseley is sparkplug for No. 10 Eagles

Chili Moseley plays a variety of positions for the Kirkwood baseball team and plays them all very well, but it would be terribly unfair to label him as simply a utility player.

Moseley is entirely capable of starting at second base, third base or right field for the Eagles - he's done all three in style - but the 5-foot-6 sophomore is extremely valuable at plugging whatever hole crops up at Kirkwood.

He's starting at second base now with Cal Clark on the disabled list and had a sensational weekend series against Ellsworth, going 8-for-12 with two doubles, a triple, a home and five RBIs in four games.

Kirkwood swept Ellsworth by identical 10-0 scores Sunday, with both games stopped in the sixth inning due to the college mercy rule in walk-off fashion. Moseley's two-run homer, a laser to left field, ended the second game for the twin-killing.

Moseley stays in the lineup on a regular basis due to his bat, his glove, his positive attitude and daring base-running, although sometimes it looks like Coach Todd Rima would like to put a lasso around him when he's trying for an extra base.

Moseley is hitting .357 with 25 RBIs and Rima loves writing his name in the lineup, no matter what position he happens to be playing.

Mayhew belts 4 homers for No. 5 Eagles

DoniRae Mayhew hit four home runs and drove in 10 runs for the Kirkwood softball this past weekend on its road trip to Fort Dodge and Iowa Falls.

Kirkwood split its two games at Iowa Central on Saturday, winning 17-4 before falling 5-4. The fifth-ranked Eagles swept Ellsworth on Sunday, prevailing 16-2 and 11-0 against the Panthers.

Mayhew went 3-for-3 with two homers and four RBIs in the 17-4 victory over Iowa Central. Rachel Stewart was 3-for-4. Hannah Mausser went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Audra Bridenstine was 2-for-2 with two doubles. Lauren Kuch drove in two runs. Natalie Halvorson hit a home run.

Mayhew went 3-for-4 and hit another homer in the 5-4 loss to Iowa Central. Monika Bevans was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Mayhew belted another homer and drove in three runs in the 16-2 verdict over Ellsworth. Bevans was 3-for-4 with three doubles, four RBIs and four runs. Stewart was 2-for-2 and scored three times. Mausser went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Skylar Ryan had two hits.

Howell would listen to pro offer

Kirkwood shortstop Korry Howell could have a big decision to make this summer, but there are no bad options.

He could turn pro and play baseball for a living if he's drafted high enough and likes the offer, or he could play for the Iowa Hawkeyes next season and join one of the top programs in the Big Ten.

He could turn pro, make money and not have to wake up early for classes. Or he could move to Iowa City and play for the Hawks.

Howell was selected in the 19th round of the Major League draft last summer by Kansas City, but he'd already decided to stick with Kirkwood for his sophomore year and declined a modest offer from the Royals.

This time he'll be tempted to go play in the minor leagues if he likes the possibilities.