Nearly Perfect, Dougherty Tosses a No-Hitter

COUNCIL BLUFFS - For 5 1/3 innings, Freshman Pitcher Olivia Dougherty was perfect against the visiting Cloud County CC Thunderbirds. The right-handed pitcher from Norwalk, IA, struck out 8 of the first 9 batters she faced; Lilly Ellison hit a soft tapper in front of home plate that Catcher Lauren Black fielded cleanly to erase her with a throw to first.

The Reivers (14-6) would spot her a pair of runs in the first and third innings then added three more runs in the 4th that included back-to-back RBI singles from Kacy Miller and Mariah Herrera.

A no-hit game would not be complete without great defense as well.  Shortstop Alix Bailey made a diving catch to her right on a line drive by Berkleigh Curtis in the top of the 4th, then Kiley Grubbs made a running grab, diving over first base to put out Ellison in the 5th inning.

Cloud County (5-9) would finally get a runner safely aboard as Shaylee Keslar drew a one-out walk on a full count in the 6th.  Dougherty would end the inning after a sacrifice bunt was put out 5-4 by Allie Cromer, and then Dougherty finished it off with her 11th and final strikeout of the game.

Iowa Western would go on to end the game via run rule on a 2-run double from Grubbs for the 8-0 victory.  For Dougherty, the win improved her record to 6-2 this season and lowered her ERA to 1.83 and her WHIP to 0.99 in 53.2 innings pitched.

For Head Coach Heidi Jordan, this is the 2nd no-hitter thrown during her tenure with the Reivers.  Erin Kirkland notched a no-hitter last season in a 21-0 victory over Southwestern CC where she also recorded 11 strikeouts.

Game two saw the Reivers race out to a 4-1 lead after four innings, but the T-Birds clawed their way back, adding two runs in the 5th inning with a 2-run double from Curtis.  IWCC responded with a run in the bottom of the inning and two runs in the bottom of the 6th to make it a 7-3 game. 

Starting pitcher Saydee Plummer would run out of gas after throwing 109 pitches, striking out seven batters.  After back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases in the 7th, Coach Jordan sent CJ Risius in to save the game.  Cloud County would knock in a pair of runs on an RBI ground out followed by an RBI single, but Risius got out of the jam with a strikeout and a popout to end the game.

Herrera had a fantastic day at the plate, going 7-8 with 3 doubles, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored.  Miller added four hits on her day, adding 3 RBI and 3 runs in the doubleheader.

Iowa Western will hit the road on Tuesday in a doubleheader against NIACC in Mason City.  The team will then start ICCAC Conference play at the Dr. John and Jean Marshall Softball/Baseball Complex on Saturday, with two games against Indian Hills and two more games against Southeastern on Sunday in Council Bluffs.

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