Kutschkau's Blast Sends Softball to the District Championship

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Briannah Kutschkau sent Iowa Western Softball to its third straight Midwest District Championship with a 2-run blast over the left centerfield wall in the bottom of the 7th inning of game two vs Southeastern CC.

The Reivers (47-5) took game one of the ICCAC Region 11 Championship series, 4-2; Kennedy Borud recorded three of the four RBI's on a 2-run homerun and a double in the 5th inning.  Sophomore Pitcher Saydee Plummer picked up her 22nd win of the year, going the distance and striking out a pair of Blackhawks.

In game two, Southeastern (33-16) ran out to a quick 3-0 lead. Jeilane Stewart doubled home, Kiera Klum in the 2nd inning, Anna Woods brought home Logan Kelley in the third, and Jaimee Bolduc's RBI single gave the visitors the early lead.

In the fourth, Sophomore Kamira Botos smacked an RBI double to center field, then Keinlee Rinacke brought home Amelia Ehlert to cut the lead to 3-2.

Borud sent a line shot over the left field wall for her second homerun of the series to tie the game at three in the 5th inning, and Ehlert followed with an RBI double to score Bella Jaso, taking a 4-3 lead.

Logan Kelley sent a solo shot on the first pitch of the 7th inning from Kyla Parker over the right field wall to tie the game at four.  A single by Woods brought Kaylee Winter to the plate, and she delivered to put the Blackhawks up 5-4 with the Reivers still to bat.

Borud led off the bottom of the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Ruclaireth Tovar Rodriguez.  Kutschkau stepped into the box and, on a 1-0 count, sent the ball over the right centerfield wall for the game winner.

With the victory, Iowa Western advances to the Midwest District Championship game versus Jefferson College on Saturday, May 16th, at the Dr. John & Jean Marshall Complex in Council Bluffs. 

For Head Coach Heidi Jordan, in her fourth season at the helm of the program, the team has won three straight ICCAC Region 11 titles.  It's just the second time in 45 years that Iowa Western has won three straight conference championships (2011-13) and just the 8th ICCAC title in program history.

Follow the Reivers at @reiversoftball or @goreivers for the official times and date of the contest.