No. 14 NIACC splits pair at SCC Turf Tournament

BURLINGTON - The NIACC softball team opened the season Friday by splitting a pair of contests at the SCC Turf Tournament.

No. 14 (NJCAA Division II) NIACC blanked No. 14 (NJCAA Division I) Indian Hills 2-0 and the Trojans dropped a 8-4 decision to Black Hawk College-Moline.

The shutout by the Trojans was the first since they blanked Iowa Lakes 10-0 in five innings in the second game of a doubleheader on April 24, 2023. It was the Trojans first win over a rated team since they outscored then No. 12 Kirkwood 14-8 in the first game of a doubleheader on April 30, 2023.

In the game against Indian Hills, freshman right-hander Macy Kellar tossed a two-hit shutout. The former Newman Catholic prep struck out 11 and did not walk a batter in her collegiate debut.

The 11 strikeouts is the most in game for a NIACC pitcher since Laken Lienhard struck out 11 against Kankakee CC on Feb. 26, 2023.

NIACC scored single runs in the first and fifth inning to claim its first win of the season.

NIACC sophomores Brylinn Kroymann and Emily Jones each collected two hits and both had a double.

Against Black Hawk College-Moline, NIACC scored three runs in the first inning and plated a single run in the second inning.

Black Hawk College-Moline pushed across six runs in the fourth innings and added two insurance runs in the sixth inning.

NIACC's Madisyn Kelley and Jones both had two hits. The Trojans received two doubles from Jones and one double each from Kroymann, Katy Olive and Kaitlin Blair.

Olive, a sophomore stole two bases in each game on Friday and now has 67 career stolen bases, which ranks third on the school's career list.

Sophomore right-hander Brynn Stalberger took the loss in the circle for the Trojans. Stalberger allowed six runs on seven hits. She struck out three and walked two in 3 2/3 innings of work.

NIACC returns to action Saturday at the SCC Turf Tournament. The Trojans face State Fair CC at 10 a.m. and play host Southeastern CC at 4 p.m.