After starting the season 7-3, the Knights softball team returned from Kissimmee, Fla. and lost a doubleheader against Quincy University on Sunday.

The Knights played a close game in game one, losing by a score of 1-0. Wartburg had one hit in the game, which came in the fourth inning when Ashley Steines hit a two-out triple.

In game two, however, the Lady Hawks got the best of the Knights and defeated them 8-5. The Knights started things off in the second inning with a homerun.  Later in the inning, the Knights launched a three-run shot to take a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Hawks came back and ended up beading the Knights, the two losses put the Knights’ overall record at 9-5.

Knights defeat Millikin
Earlier in the week, the Knights swept a doubleheader on Wednesday against Millikin (Ill.) by scores of 1-0 and 10-3.

The Knights picked up their first win of the doubleheader when outfielder Courtney Bain scored on an Ellie Petersen double.

The run was more than enough for Knights’ ace Angela Hartwig as she threw a two-hit shutout. Hartwig threw six strikeouts and gave up one walk in the win.

Game two saw an explosive Knights’ offense as they pulled out the 10-3 win. Hartwig once again had another strong pitching performance, throwing four scoreless innings, striking out six and walking one batter.

With the wins, the Knights are now 9-3 and in fourth place in the Iowa Conference.

Tourney offers team many opportunities
The Knights opened up the season in Kissimmee. They took part in the Rebel Spring Games, playing 10 games in five days. Their first win came against Roanoke (Va.), 3-0. The Knights’ second game of the day was a loss to Muhlenberg (Penn.),4-3.

The Knights started day two by defeating Beloit (Wisc.) 9-3 and Wittenberg 13-1. The Knights defeated the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 10-2 and Geneva 1-0 in day three action.

Day four saw the Knights lose their second game of the season, when they lost to Methodist by a score of 5-0.

Later that day, the Knights shut out Miskingum, 8-0. The Knights split their final two games of the Kissimmee trip, defeating Widener 2-1 and losing to Indiana Wesleyan, 1-0.

The trip was important to the Knights, as it was preparation for the upcoming conference season. 

“I think we learned a lot over the course of the last two weeks. It’s been a great growing opportunity for our team and our defense has played exceptionally well,” Coach Kehe said. “We played a good schedule on our spring trip, a good number of ranked opponents nationally and teams that have been in regionals the past couple of years; so, that should help us as we move down the road.”