After struggling in its opening road trip in Florida, the Heartland softball team responded in a big way last week. The Hawks rattled off six straight victories in Georgia from Thursday to Saturday to improve to 8-6 overall on the young season.
 
Freshman shortstop Shayne Immke paced the Hawks on the trip, going 12 for 21 with seven extra base hits, 14 RBI's, nine runs scored and five walks.
 
Thursday 2/15

The Hawks opened the week in Barnesville, Ga. for a doubleheader at Gordon State. The visitors secured a close 4-3 victory in game one, with Immke igniting the scoring in the fourth frame with a two-run shot to center field to make it 2-0 in favor of Heartland.
 
After the Highlanders scored in the fifth to make it 2-1, run scoring hits by Ellie Downing and Madison Smith extended the advantage to 4-1 heading into the final inning. A pair of one out runs in the seventh for Gordon State pulled the Highlanders to within one at 4-3, but Morgan Malone finished off a complete game performance with two straight outs and the Hawks held on.
 
Malone yielded three runs (two earned) on seven hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. Immke finished with two hits, while Concetta DeBord, Downing and Smith each registered one hit apiece.
 
Heartland was able to get on the board first in game two as well, as Immke powered a line drive to center field for a solo home run in the second to make it 1-0. The Hawks would extend the lead with three more tallies in the fourth. Erin Anderson singled to score a run, and Smith added a fielder's choice to drive in another. Immke followed with an RBI double to make it 4-0.
 
After the Highlanders got on the board with a run in the sixth, Immke found the hit column yet again with a run-scoring single in the seventh to make it 5-1. Gordon State would score once more in the bottom half, but the Hawks held on for a 5-2 win.
 
Kendyl Hurt tossed a complete game in dominate fashion, allowing just two runs (one earned) on 6 hits, while striking out four. Immke led the Hawks with three hits in four at-bats, while also recording three RBI's.
 
Friday 2/16

Heartland traveled to Barnesville, Ga. for the remaining four games of the trip at East Georgia State College. The Hawks won both contests on Friday, opening with a 4-1 victory in the first game of the series.
 
The Bobcats jumped out in front in the first frame on an error by second baseman Landes Benedict to make it 1-0. From there, it was a defensive battle until the Hawks responded with four runs in the top-half of the seventh. Immke opened with a double to score Benedict before Hurt doubled home DeBord and Immke to make it 3-1 in favor of the Hawks. Downing added a run-scoring single to make it 4-1.
 
Makaela Salisbury picked up the save in the bottom of the seventh. Amber Tiemeyer held the Bobcats in check for much of the contest, tossing six innings and allowing one run (unearned) on four hits. Benedict, Hurt and Anderson paced the Hawks offensively with two hits apiece.
 
An offensive explosion helped Heartland win game two 20-12, as the Hawks finished with 20 hits in the contest. The Hawks scored at least two runs in every inning but one. DeBord and Immke finished with four hits apiece, while Benedict, Hurt, Anderson, Sadie Christensen and Jaiden Walters each had two hits. Immke also added another long ball and six RBI's to her tally for the week.
 
Malone picked up the win in relief for the Hawks, throwing four frames and allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout.
 
Saturday 2/17
 
The Hawks finished the road slate with two more wins over East Georgia State on Saturday. Five runs in the seventh inning secured Heartland's 9-3 victory in game one. After the Bobcats struck first with a tally in the second, Raeghan Morefield tied the game with an RBI single in the third. A walk by Bailey Brooks and another run-scoring single by Lilly Hicks gave Heartland a 3-1 advantage.
 
A two-RBI knock by East Georgia State tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth, but Immke responded with a double in the sixth to score Hicks to make it 4-3 in favor of the Hawks. Five more runs in the seventh for the Hawks put the game out of reach, as Hicks singled to score a run before a DeBord triple and an Immke double made it 9-3.
 
Hurt registered another solid outing in a complete game performance. The freshman hurler allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits for the Hawks. Benedict, DeBord, Immke and Anderson each finished with two hits.
 
The series finale was much of the same for the Hawks, as a big fourth inning guided the visitors to an 8-3 win. The Bobcats opened with a run in the second before an RBI single by Downing and a sacrifice fly by Anderson gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
 
After East Georgia State tied the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the third, Heartland scored four times in the next half inning to open up a 6-2 advantage. DeBord tripled to score Kennadi Rico, and Benedict added a sacrifice to score DeBord. Downing followed with a two-run home run to left field.
 
Chirstensen added to the lead after reaching on an error to drive in Anderson in the fifth. DeBord extended the advantage to 8-2 with a sacrifice fly. East Georgia State scored once more in the fifth, but Malone limited the damage in another strong performance on the mound.
 
Malone picked up the victory after tossing seven frames and allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits. The sophomore walked three and struck-out three. Benedict, DeBord, Downing and Anderson had two hits apiece for the Hawks.
 
Heartland will hit the road again on Saturday and Sunday, as the Hawks battle St. Louis Community College and Jefferson College in a pair of doubleheaders in Missouri. First pitch is scheduled for Noon on Saturday in St. Louis before the Hawks travel to Hillsboro, Mo. for a doubleheader Sunday also beginning at Noon.