The Allen Red Devils look to rebound from a Wednesday sweep by Des Moines Area Community College Saturday when they host Kirkwood Community College Saturday.
It’s a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Red Devils as they go from one highly ranked junior college in DMACC (16-3) team to another with the Kirkwood Eagles (16-6).
“We took ourselves out of some situations and made some key mistakes,” Allen coach Nicole Peters said. “It could have been a different ballgame if we had done what we needed to do in those moments. We will give them credit. There’s a reason they’re ranked No. 3 in the nation right now. We gave them quite a few runs today, but we definitely did not play up to our potential.”
After coming into Wednesday’s game winning three of their last four, the Red Devils ran into a roadblock in DMACC, who walked away from the initial game after ending it in the sixth on an 8-0 run-rule with DMACC sophomore Kierra Jungers pitching a no-hitter.
ACC sophomore pitcher Camrynn Yardley took the loss in the first game, picking up five strikeouts. Yardley also picked up Allen’s only strikeout in game two while coming on in relief in a 13-1 loss.
Although they suffered a more lopsided score in the second game, the Red Devils had a few sparks. They got on the scoreboard thanks to a fourth inning RBI double by sophomore second baseman Paxton Meyer. Meyer and Yardley also accounted for Allen’s only hits Wednesday. After DMACC scored a run in the fifth inning, and Allen going scoreless in their subsequent at-bat, the second game ended early on a 13-1 run rule.
“We strung some hits together in game two, but definitely not up to our potential,” Peters said.
Although facing another ranked team in Kirksville, Peters believes her squad can compete with the nation’s elite squads if they can become more consistent.
“Everybody puts their pants on the same way. They may be ranked, and we may struggle, but we both get ready the same way,” Peters said. “Camrynn kept us in the games early on for sure. Paxton had a hit or two, but stringing things together early on would be better.”
Following Saturday’s games, the Red Devils head on the road to face Missouri State West Plains Tuesday, then return to Iola Friday to host Southeast Community College.
