HAWKS SWEEP SOUTHEAST TUESDAY WITH HUGE OFFENSIVE OUTING

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College softball team battled Southeast Community College Tuesday at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk and came away with two more tallies added to their win column. Northeast prevailed in Game 1 by a final score of 8-6 before topping Southeast by a final score of 14-6 in Game 2.

Game 1 was a tight affair as an event held by the Northeast Student Activities Council allowed for many Northeast students to watch their Hawks (15-13) battle the Southeast Storm. The Hawks fell behind 6-2 early, but home runs from Josie Knust (Plattsmouth, Neb.) and Greta Lindberg (Tekamuh, Neb.) gave the Hawks the edge. Jade Koch (Norfolk, Neb.) and Mia Eickhoff (Redondo Beach, Calif.) had timely hits to bring in runs as the Hawks closed out the game, winning 8-6.

A lightning delay caused a brief disruption to Game 2 at the end of two innings, but the Hawks didn't allow that break to disrupt their momentum as they scored nine quick runs soon after the delay ceased. The Hawks tacked on a few more before Madison Berger (Columbus, Neb.) hit a dribbler to the opposing shortstop that scored the winning run to end the game in five innings.

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH

Head softball coach Iris Woodhead's overall thoughts on today's games:

"We started off slow," Woodhead said. "We weren't hitting our pitch. We weren't even looking for our pitch. Had a conversation at the start of the third inning and we started to have a better approach. Once one person does it everyone else can do it after that, right? I liked our approach from the third inning on for our hitters. Good confidence booster for our hitters today."

Woodhead's thoughts as to how her team overcame the lightning delay:

"Awesome response," Woodhead said. "Awesome response with our offense throwing up nine there. I thought we reacted well."

Woodhead's thoughts on seeing many students from the Northeast Student Activities Council out at the ballpark:

"We love our fans," Woodhead said. "We always have a lot of fans, honestly. It was cool to see that many students. Loved seeing students out here. Loved having the students cheer for us. Loved it for the girls to have their friends out in the bleachers."

Woodhead's thoughts on building upon these two wins as her team takes on Iowa Lakes Community College this weekend:

"That's just it," Woodhead said. "Our confidence. We had a big talk in-between games about our confidence. We had the mentality, but we just need to put the confidence in there sometimes. If we're able to go into Iowa Lakes with some confidence I think it's going to be a good time. Emilee (Spitz) is pitching well. Greta (Lindberg's) bat is coming alive, which I think is going to be that good confidence booster for her that can translate into pitching. Josie (Knust) came in and did fantastic in shutting down the hitters in that first game as well. If our defense stays on point and our hitters remain confident, I think it should be a good, competitive weekend for us."

UP NEXT

The Hawks will head out for their first road conference games of the season as they take on Iowa Lakes Community College for four games. The first doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. with another game scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday in Estherville, Iowa.

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