Knights score 18 times, sweep Cyclone softball team

 HARLAN -- Allowing runs in eight straight innings during one stretch, Harlan Community was swept by Kuemper Catholic 7-3 and 11-7 in a Hawkeye 10 Conference softball doubleheader Tuesday night (June 13) at windy H. Jack Field.
 The Knights took control of the first game with a three-run sixth inning, capped by Allison Mertz’s two-run triple, then scored in all but one inning of game two, highlighted by a four-run fourth and a three-run seventh.
 It was a frustrating night for the Cyclones, who were their own worst enemy at times and unable to sustain the momentum of a three-game winning streak. They dropped to 7-10 overall and 4-6 in conference play. Kuemper improved to 12-6 overall and 8-4 in the H-10.
Kuemper 7, HCHS 3
 Prior to scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Cyclones’ only offense in game one came on Lexi Larsen’s impressive fifth-inning home run to center field. HCHS left the bases loaded in the third inning (down 1-0) and stranded two more runners in the fourth.
 Cyclone pitcher Morgan Schaben (2-5) recorded 15 strikeouts in the game while allowing eight hits and six earned runs. On three of those strikeouts, however, no out was recorded as the ball hit the dirt and no throw was made to first base.
Kuemper 11, HCHS 7
 The Cyclones took a brief 2-1 lead in the first inning and scored four in the fifth to pull within 8-6, but couldn’t slow down a Knight team that kept chipping away throughout game two.
 Peter, Kiersten Blair, Cassidy Christensen, Anna Wanninger and Klocke all had at least two hits for the Knights, who scored in every inning but the sixth and outhit the Cyclones 13-9.
 Briggs and Schaben both went 2-for-4 to lead HCHS, including a double by Briggs, who scored twice, and three RBI for Schaben.