Entering Thursday's doubleheader against NJCAA DII No.16-ranked Spoon River at The Corn Crib, the Heartland softball team knew it had a tall task on its hands to defeat the Snappers. In two close-knit battles, the Hawks secured a pair of victories over the Snappers to move to 27-25 (13-9) on the season.
 
Game 1
In a pitcher's duel that featured just three total runs and 13 hits between the two squads, a walk-off, run-scoring single by Madi Smith in the seventh frame gave the Hawks a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the night.
 
After the Snappers recorded an out to begin the frame, Concetta DeBord delivered her third single of the contest before Shayne Immke walked. Spoon River would secure one more out before Smith laced a line drive single up the middle.
 
The Hawks opened the game with a run in the first on a Raeghan Morefield groundout to score DeBord to make it 1-0. A Kylie Simmons sacrifice fly in the fifth tied the contest at 1-1 in the fifth.
 
Morgan Malone was dominant on the mound in a complete-game effort, allowing one run on seven hits, with five walks and four strikeouts. DeBord finished going 3-4 with two runs scored.
 
Game 2
The Hawks continued the momentum into game two, scoring in all but one of their chances in a 6-4 win over the Snappers to sweep the doubleheader. Smith ignited the scoring for the Hawks in the first on a run-scoring fielder's choice to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. A two-run shot by Spoon River's Kylee Hadsall gave the Snappers a 2-1 advantage in the second.
 
Immke tied the contest at 2-2 with an RBI-single in the bottom of the second. A miscue by the Snappers in the third allowed two more Heartland runs to cross to make it 4-2 in favor of the Hawks. A Downing RBI-single extended the advantage to 5-2 in the fourth.
 
Run-scoring singles by Spoon River's Emily Meloche and Sarah Stufflebeam put the Snappers to within striking distance at 5-4 in the fifth, but an RBI-double by Morefield in the sixth gave the Hawks a little insurance at 6-4 heading into the final frame. Amber Teimeyer, who threw 2.1 shutout innings in the contest, set the Snappers down in order to secure the win for the Hawks.
 
DeBord, Immke and Morefield each had a pair of hits for the Hawks. MaKaela Salisbury picked up the win on the mound, tossing 4.2 innings and yielding four runs on nine hits.
 
The Hawks will wrap-up regular season play at 1 pm Sunday at NJCAA DII No. 1-ranked Parkland College.