HCHS softball collects 31 hits, sweeps Panthers

 CRESTON (May 31) -- The Harlan Community softball team totaled 31 hits in just 10 innings at bat Thursday night, improving to 3-0 in Hawkeye Ten Conference play with a doubleheader sweep at Creston. HCHS won 7-4 and 14-2, with game two lasting just three innings.
 The Cyclones also moved back over the .500 mark with a 5-4 overall record. They were scheduled to play three more games at Saturday’s Atlantic Tournament, but the event was cancelled due to heavy rain overnight.
HCHS 7, Creston 4
 Junior pitcher Morgan Schaben recorded 17 strikeouts in game one and went 4-for-4 with two doubles at the plate as the Cyclones held off the Panthers 7-4.
 HCHS scored three runs in the third to go up 4-1 and chipped away with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh to prevent a rally.
 In addition to Schaben’s four-hit game, Kate Heithoff, Tianna Kasperbauer, Emily Brouse, Julia Schechinger, Maci Schmitz and Molly Gubbels had two hits apiece for the Cyclones. Brouse hit a two-run double in the third and Anna Ahrenholtz (1 hit) also had two RBI.
HCHS 14, Creston 2 (3)
 Game two quickly turned into a blowout as the Cyclones plated six runs in the second inning and eight more in the third to win by the rule, 14-2.
 HCHS got to freshman pitcher Rachel Boyer for 14 hits, including 13 during its two big innings. The outburst featured two-run doubles by Schechinger and Gubbels and a two-run single by Heithoff.
 Brouse and Ahrenholtz both finished 3-for-3, Heithoff and Madison Schumacher both had two hits and Schaben added her third double of the twin bill.
 Brouse (1-1) earned her first pitching win of the year, allowing two hits and two runs in three innings. She walked none and struck out three.