Reivers Go 3-1 in Opening Weekend

Aberdeen, SD   

Jan. 30-31

Iowa Western got on the diamond for the first time this spring with a trip up to Aberdeen, SD to play in the Presentation College dome against Lake Region State College and North Dakota State College of Science on Sunday and Monday.  The Reivers came out of the weekend going 3-1, splitting with Lake Region State College on Sunday by winning 11-1 but dropping game two 7-6.  Monday would see IWCC sweep NDSCS with scores of 10-3 and 18-4.

Sunday

Emily Brouse picked up the win in her first career start for IW, striking out ten in four innings of work.  Brouse scattered five hits, allowing one run before giving way to Sage Copeland who threw a scoreless fifth inning to close the game 11-1.  Camryn Milley, Libby Walls, and Tayler Floyd all homered in the game, with Karis Gifford, Olivia Kyes, Rylee Konowalchuk, and Jael Wilde all doubling.

Game two would not go as planned for the Reivers, as they blew a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning by surrendering five runs and having their comeback fall short in the bottom half, losing 7-6.  Libby Walls took the loss in the circle after four innings of relief work.  Walls struck out seven while giving up four runs.  Offensively, Walls doubled for IW, while Olivia Valdez and Kambrie Stuart each had two hits.

Monday

Brouse would pick up her second win of the season, striking out 12 in six innings of work, giving up two earned runs.  Olivia Kyes stole the show in Game One, hitting a homerun and three doubles while driving in four runs.  Amayia Hernadez added three hits including a double.  Karis Gifford and Libby Walls each had two hits in the contest and Olivia Valdez provided an RBI Double. The Reivers also stole nine bases in the game.

The second half of the doubleheader would see Camryn Milley hit a grand slam in the first inning to put IW ahead 4-0.  However, NDSCS would answer back and tie the game up after their half of the first.  The Reivers then went on to score 14 runs unanswered to grab the 18-4 victory.  Milley had a tremendous game, going 4-5 with three homeruns and driving in nine runners.  Amayia Hernandez and Olivia Kyes would also homer.  Hernandez, with Stuart and Gifford, provided doubles as well.  Libby Walls earned her first win of the season, going 3 and 2/3 innings in relief, allowing only one run.