Burlington, Iowa - After a split on Friday, the 16th-ranked ICC softball team (5-4) headed into their final day at the Southeastern Iowa Dome Tournament looking to go over .500 on the young season. A matchup with the hosts as well as Morton College was on tap for the day.

#16 ICC COUGARS 4, SOUTHEASTERN IOWA 1
The Cougars and Blackhawks were locked in a pitcher's duel early. Through the game's first four innings, both teams combined for just five base runners.

In the top of the fifth, ICC was the first team to finally break through. Kylie Hyde got the inning rolling with an infield single. Olivia Drish followed that up with an RBI sacrifice fly to score Hyde and put the Cougars ahead 1-0. A Kiersten Manning double and Allie Scrivner walk loaded the bases, but to no avail, and the game would stay at 1-0. 

ICC's bats came through for a game-changing sixth inning. Brooke Cordray (single), Madi Kessler (single), and Hyde (RBI single) all reached base consecutively. After a pair of outs were recorded, Savanah Clifton set the final score on a two-run single. 

Manning struck out three of her 13 for a 1-2-3 sixth. The Cougars, however, would go 1-2-3 themselves in the top of the seventh. Southeastern Iowa had three outs to work with and four runs to get, something that with the offensive pace of the game, may have seemed like a tall task. The Blackhawks made it interesting. Two singles and a double pulled the hosts within 4-1. ICC would put the clamps down the rest of the way, including two more Manning strikeouts, en route to the three-run win. 

Hitting:
Brooke Cordray | 3 hits
Savanah Clifton | 2 hits, 2 RBI
Kylie Hyde | 2 hits, 1 RBI
Olivia Drish | 1 hit, 1 RBI

Pitching:
Kiersten Manning | 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 13 strikeouts

#16 ICC COUGARS 4, MORTON COLLEGE 3
The second game of the day may have seen more opposing runs on the board, but ICC's defense still dazzled in game two, turning a pair of double plays. 

It didn't get off to the most positive start, though. Morton College went up 3-0 after two innings.

A mid-game drought ensued, with neither team able to put a run on the board for four innings. 

Olivia Stirnaman led the bottom of the sixth off by drawing a five-pitch walk. More often than not, leadoff walks can lead to opportunities to capitalize - and that's exactly what the Cougars would do. A Olivia Drish single and Savanah Clifton sacrifice bunt scored ICC's first run. Kiersten Manning lined a single into center field scoring Brooke Cordray, and Alyssa Beltran tied the game up on an RBI double to score Manning. The scoring would stop there - for now. ICC would need a walkoff to win their third game of the tournament. 

A single and a walk put the game-winning run in scoring position. Drish drew a walk and loaded the bases for Clifton. After a six-pitch at bat, Clifton drew the game-winning walk, and Madi Kessler crossed home plate to give ICC the one-run win. 

Hitting:
Savanah Clifton | 2 RBI, 1 walk
Kiersten Manning | 1 hit, 1 RBI
Alyssa Beltran | 1 hit, 1 RBI

Pitching:
Bridget Gilroy | 1 inning, 2 strikeouts
Olivia Drish | 6 innings, 0 earned runs, 9 strikeouts

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2023 NFCA Lead-Off Classic
D1 #1 Florida Southwestern (11-2)
@ South Commons Complex - Columbus, Ga.
Friday, March 3rd - 10:00 AM
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