Lensing's walkoff homer earns NIACC a split

MASON CITY - Sophomore Anna Lensing hit a walkoff 3-run home run in the seventh inning to lift the NIACC softball team to an 11-8 victory over No. 12 (NJCAA Division I) Indian Hills in the second game of Saturday's ICCAC doubleheader on the NIACC campus.

Lensing drilled a 1-1 pitch with one out over the center field fence that scored Kennadi Colbert and Laken Lienhard and gave the Lady Trojans a split in the league twinbill. Indian Hills (21-8 overall, 13-3 in the ICCAC) won the first game 8-0 in five innings.

In NIACC's at-bat in the seventh inning, McKenna Mentink led off the frame with a walk and Colbert ran for Mentink. Lienhard singled to left field with nobody out putting runners at first and second.

Hailey Worman popped out to third for the first out of the inning sending Lensing to the plate.

Lensing then gave the Lady Trojans the walk-off win with her fourth home run of the season when she deposited the third pitch of the at-bat over the center field fence.

Lensing's home run made a winner out of sophomore pitcher Kayla Sproul, who relieved starter Sydni Coleman with two outs in the fourth inning. Sproul only allowed a single run in the fifth inning.

Sproul (1-5) held the Warriors scoreless in the their final two at-bats.

NIACC scored five of its 11 runs in the second inning on six hits, including a solo home run from Bri Notermann and a two-run home run from Mentink. The Lady Trojans also received an RBI single from Kayla Noelker and a sacrifice fly from Macy Alexander.

It was NIACC's first win over a rated team since topping No. 2 DMACC 10-4 in second game of doubleheader on April 28, 2019.

In the first game, Indian Hills' Malarie Husmeman tossed a two-hit shutout against the Lady Trojans with four strikeouts and three walks. The Lady Trojans' hits came from Noelker and McKinzey Johnson.

NIACC (6-10, 4-10) returns to action Monday at home with an ICCAC doubleheader against No. 7 (NJCAA Division II) Kirkwood.