NIACC. Northeast CC split pair

MASON CITY - The NIACC softball team split an ICCAC doubleheader against Northeast CC Saturday afternoon on the NIACC campus.

NIACC (3-1 overall) won the first game 12-7. Northeast CC scored two runs in the eighth inning to win the second game 12-10 in eight innings.

In Saturday's opener, NIACC received home runs from Kayla Noelker and Macy Alexander.

The Lady Trojans pushed across five runs in the first inning, added two runs in the second inning and plated five runs in the fourth frame.

Noelker was 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Alexander was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Also for the Lady Trojans, Anna Lensing was 2 for 2, including a double, with one RBI and also drew two walks.

Laken Lienhard gained the win for NIACC. Lienhard struck out seven and walked two.

In the second game, Lienhard and McKenna Mentink hit home runs for the Lady Trojans. Riley Nelson, Kayla Sproul and Mentink recorded doubles.

NIACC trailed 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lady Trojans rallied for six runs in their half of the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead.

Northeast CC tied the contest at 6-6 with a single run in its half of the sixth inning and the Lady Trojans pushed their lead to 10-6 with four runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Northeast CC tied the game at 10-10 with three runs in the sixth inning and a single run in the seventh inning. The Hawks eventually salvaged the split in the twinbill by plating two runs in the eighth inning.

The two teams wrap up a four-game series on Sunday with a pair of games. The first game is slated to start at noon.