WALKER - Lindsey Culver blasted two inside-the-park home runs Sunday to help Metro Sports Report sweep a doubleheader from Ironside Apparel in the opening games of the 2020 Iowa Women's Softball League in Walker.
Culver ripped a grand slam over the right fielder's head as Metro Sports Report topped Ironside Apparel, 10-5, in the first game at the spacious field in Walker. She then lofted a two-run homer over the center fielder's head to help MSR trip Ironside, 6-4, in the second game of their twinbill.
The IWSL played all of its games on Busse Field at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids the last two years, but Busse Field is currently closed due to the pandemic and the league has moved 25 miles north to Walker for at least the first four weeks of the season.
The players and fans enjoyed the splendid hospitality by the good folks of Walker, and the local citizens enjoyed having college softball come to town.
MSR 10, IRONSIDE APPAREL 5
Culver, who plays at South Dakota State, belted her inside-the-park grand slam in the third inning of the opener as Metro Sports Report exploded for seven runs. She finished 2-for-3 in the game.
Erin Drahozal, currently a law student at Marquette University following her playing days at Upper Iowa University, went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs for MSR in the opener. Camryn Kauffman of St. Thomas went 2-for-2 and Sydney Robertson of Mount Mercy scored twice.
Skyler Stookey of Coe belted an RBI triple and was 2-for-2 with two RBIs for Ironside Apparel in Game 1. Emily Oler of Mount Mercy hit a two-run double.
Isabelle True of Kirkwood pitched four innings for the victory.
MSR 6, IRONSIDE APPAREL 4
Culver hit her two-run homer in the third inning of Game 2 to tie the score, 3-3, and Metro Sports Report never trailed again.
Drahozal collected two more RBIs for MSR, including a sacrifice fly that snapped the 3-3 deadlock. Keera Ball of Coe and Lizzy Van Manen of Jacksonville State scored twice for the winners.
Western's Kentucky's Kelsey Aikey got the win and Katie Cubbage from Kirkwood got the save.
BOSCH FINANCIAL 4, EMIL'S HIDEAWAY 3
Lexi Berry of Mount Mercy hit a two-run triple to help Bosch Financial trim Emil's Hideaway in the first game of their doubleheader. Allie Timmons of Drake pitched three scoreless innings in relief with five strikeouts for the victory.
Ari Rolle of Virginia Wesleyan was 2-for-2 for Emil's Hideaway.
BOSCH FINANCIAL 5, EMIL'S HIDEAWAY 5
Jessica Ayers of Marshalltown Community College collected a clutch two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the last inning for Emil's Hideaway to erase a 5-3 deficit and earn a 5-5 tie in Game 2 of their twinbill.
Jenna Schwartzhoff of Clarke had a two-run single for Emil's Hideaway in the third inning.
Nicole Timmons of Drake struck out nine batters in three innings for Bosch Financial. Sydney Illg of Wartburg went 2-for-2 with a double for Bosch.
IOWA WOMEN'S SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Sunday's Results
At Walker
Metro Sports Report 10, Ironside Apparel 5|
Metro Sports Report 6, Ironside Apparel 4
Bosch Financial 4, Emil's Hideaway 3
Bosch Financial 5, Emil's Hideaway 5 (tie)
Standings
Metro Sports Report 2-0-0
Bosch Financial 1-0-1
Emil's Hideaway 0-1-1
Ironside Apparel 0-2-0
Sunday June 14
11 a.m. - Ironside Apparel vs Emil's Hideaway (DH)
3 p.m. - Bosch Financial vs Metro Sports Report (DH)
