Delaney silences Hickman hitters

The Kewpies got two hits and one runner to third base in a 4-0 loss to Helias on Tuesday at Cosmopolitan Park.

Outfielder Shana White reached third in the first inning, but she was stranded, and Helias pitcher Lauren Delaney took over. Delaney, a sophomore, had 16 strikeouts and one walk.

“I was trying to hit the spots I wanted, the corners, and to work it up and down,” Delaney said.

While Delaney was hitting her spots, the Kewpies (5-5) couldn’t hit her. They reached base three times.”Obviously, we didn’t swing the bats real well, but we’re working on it,” third baseman Jessica Perry said.

The Crusaders (9-1) scored twice in the first inning.

After outfielder Megan Struemph led off with a walk, Kayla Schanzmeyer was tagged out at first after a groundball to third base as Struemph moved to second.

Cassey Kemna doubled, driving in Struemph. Sophomore Emily Haug then singled to right field and Kemna scored.

Helias scored twice more in the fourth. Catcher Mandy Henke and first baseman Lauren Bax singled to left field, and both scored on Josie Hussey’s deep single to center field.

“We never gave up or thought it was over,” Perry said. “We just try to keep our heads up.”

Delaney gave up singles to White and Denise Buxton, and Katie Johanning walked.

Sophomore Stefani Worley, Hickman’s pitcher, had five strikeouts.

“She started off slow in the first inning, which gave [Helias] the momentum,” Kewpies coach Courtney Diehl said. “But then she pitched really well, and made the changeups she needed to make.”