In its home opener, the Heartland softball team scored 19 total runs in two contests to capture two victories over College of Lake County Saturday afternoon at The Corn Crib. The Hawks defeated the Lancers 10-6 in game one before a 9-0 win in game two to improve to 10-10 on the year.
 
Game 1
A nine-run first inning for the Hawks proved to be the difference in a 10-6 win over the Lancers in game one. Lake County got on the board with a run in the top-half of the frame before the Hawks jumped out to a 9-1 advantage in the bottom-half of the inning.
 
Landes Benedict and Concetta DeBord each recorded a walk to begin the inning before Ellie Downing was hit by a pitch. Benedict would score on an RBI groundout by Shayne Immke moments later. Raeghan Morefield and Madi Smith each walked before Maci Byers, Lilly Hicks and Benedict each registered RBI knocks to make it 7-1. Immke later walked to drive in a run, and DeBord scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-1.
 
The Lancers responded with four runs in the second and one more in the fourth. A Downing RBI single in the fifth accounted for the lone other run for the Hawks in the win.
 
Morgan Malone (5-3) picked up the win for the Hawks, allowing six runs on 10 hits with five walks and five strikeouts. MaKaela Salisbury threw well in three innings of relief, allowing no runs on four hits.
 
Game 2
Another big first inning was key for the Hawks in game two as well, as the home team registered six runs on six hits to take a 6-0 advantage. Benedict led off the frame with a single, and Immke followed with a walk. A passed ball allowed Benedict to score before Downing drove-in Immke with a knock through the left side.
 
A miscue by the Lancers allowed Erin Anderson to reach safely and drive in Downing to make it 3-0. Morefield added a sacrifice fly, and Sadie Christensen scored Anderson with an RBI double. Benedict recorded her second hit of the frame to score Christensen and make it 6-0 in favor of the Hawks.
 
Immke added another RBI in the third on a single up the middle. A ground rule double by Downing ended the game in the fifth.
 
Amber Teimeyer was lock-down on the mound, yielding just one hit and one walk in a complete-game performance.
 
The Hawks return to action for four games at the Midwest JUCO Softball Classic at Deaconess Sports Park in Evansville, Ind. on Friday and Saturday.