After a long wait that included 53 consecutive losses, the Knox College softball team has put an end to its losing streak with a 6-4 win against Grinnell College in game one of their doubleheader Monday afternoon. The Prairie Fire’s win marks the first career win for Casey Hipp as a head coach of the Knox softball team.
Knox came fresh and rested into Monday’s matchup against Grinnell after a week-long hiatus from competition, following the cancellation of their doubleheader against Principia College the Monday before. With the Pioneers heading into Monday’s game with a 5-3 record in conference, the task ahead looked daunting for the Prairie Fire.
The Knox softball team, though, has something that cannot be measured through wins, losses, and stats. When a team possesses passion and an incredible admiration for its head coach, great things are bound to happen.
Sophomore Janet Lentini started on the mound for the Prairie Fire. With the lowest earned run average (ERA) out of all Knox pitchers heading into Monday’s contest, she looked to instantly leave a mark on the game. She did exactly that, retiring three of Grinnell’s first four batters to head into the bottom of the first inning with an even score. Although the Prairie Fire’s offense found no response at the bottom of the first inning, their offense began to click during the bottom of the second inning.
Junior Kylie Thomson kickstarted the Prairie Fire’s offensive production with a single to lead off for Knox. Junior Taylor Goudschaal followed suit with a single of her own off a Grinnell fielding error. To load the bases for the Prairie Fire, fifth-year Haylee Carpenter joined the party with a single as well.
With fifth-year Alycea Burnett next up to bat, she did an amazing job extending her plate appearance. As she battled through a 10-pitch at-bat, her at-bat ended with a walk, bringing in the first run for Knox, who took a 1-0 lead.
The Prairie Fire’s leader in slugging percentage, senior Maddie Poetzinger, added another hit to her season tally with a single down the left-field line. Her hit was well placed, allowing Goudschaal to easily reach home and extend the Prairie Fire’s lead to 2-0. With a veteran move, first-year Chelsea McKee hit a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Carpenter to dash towards home, dive head-first on the dirt, and add a third run to Knox’s total.
After a busy offensive inning in the bottom of the second for the Prairie Fire, both teams’ defenses began to take over at the start of the third. With Lentini continuing her dominant display on the mound and the Pioneers starting to find answers to Knox’s offense, both teams were unable to bring in runs in both the third and fourth innings.
As the Prairie Fire entered the fifth inning ahead 3-0, chatter began to circulate on whether Knox could finally pull off their first win of the season. With zero wins in the season until that point, the Prairie Fire found themselves in unfamiliar territory leading towards the tail end of a game. With two innings to go, the Pioneers weren’t about to let Knox cruise to the finish line.
At the top of the fifth, Grinnell’s offense began to finally see some production. In a string of multiple hits by the Pioneers, Grinnell clawed themselves back even, tying the score 3-3.
With the Prairie Fire desperately needing to stop Grinnell’s comeback, they opted to insert the experienced pitcher, fifth-year Londyn Nelson, into the game to replace Lentini on the mound. With two runners still on base for the Pioneers, Nelson was able to close out the top of the inning with no further damage to the scoreline.
Immediately starting the bottom of the fifth, junior Maddie Hicks advanced to first base on a walk after four consecutive balls. Needing a pivotal moment, Knox’s young core stepped up when counted on most, with first-year Lauren O’Neill crushing a ball to center field for a double.
With Thomson advancing to first on a walk soon after, Carpenter again stepped to the plate with bases loaded. Entering the game with the highest batting average (.319) on the Prairie Fire roster, Carpenter once again delivered with her second single of the game. Her hit allowed Hicks to reach home and retake the lead 4-3.
The top of the sixth saw a recurrence from the inning before. Just as the Prairie Fire thought they could trickle away from the Pioneers, Grinnell continued to fight back. After a single from Grinnell and a fielding error from Knox, the Pioneers now found themselves with runners in scoring position with two outs on the board.
Grinnell then connected on Nelson’s pitch, sending it down the right side, bringing in another run for the Pioneers. With Nelson able to retire the last batter, both teams entered the bottom of the sixth inning now even at four.
With tensions high, nerves jumping, and adrenaline at an all-time high, the Prairie Fire needed a much-needed breakthrough. For many watching, this may have just seemed like any other collegiate softball game. But to the players, supporters, and the institution as a whole, a win here would hold extreme importance for various reasons.
After a sudden coaching change mid-season last year, Head Coach Casey Hipp took the reins of the softball program. As a former member of the Knox College softball program, Hipp proudly stepped up when her beloved program needed her the most.
As a player, Hipp started each of the 137 games during her five seasons as a member of the Prairie Fire. Ranking second on the team in RBIs as both a first-year and sophomore, she then led the team in RBIs during her senior campaign before capping off her final season with a .341 batting average, a personal best.
In addition to the value this win would hold for a former alum, the Knox College softball team was still desperately looking to earn its first win of the year. With a 53-game losing streak dating back to the previous season, the Prairie Fire wanted nothing more than to put an end to it. With personal, coaching, and school pride ahead, the entire Knox College softball program knew it was time to take control of their narrative.
As play resumed at the bottom of the sixth inning, Poetzinger led off for the Prairie Fire with a single. Even with two consecutive outs for Knox, Poetzinger found herself at third base through well-calculated base running. Hicks soon followed with a strategic performance at the plate, causing a walk that advanced her to first.
Then, the breakthrough and bit of fortune the Prairie Fire had been waiting for finally arrived. With a wild pitch escaping the catcher’s glove, Poetzinger sprinted towards home. Her successful dive was just in time to retake the lead 5-4, advancing Hicks to second base as well.
With O’Neill now at the plate, she connected on a hit, sending it to center field. In what seemed like a routine ball for the outfielders ended in miscommunication, dropping the ball in the process. With wise base running from Hicks, she took advantage of the Pioneers’ mental lapse, reaching home to extend the lead 6-4.
As both teams took the field for the start of the seventh inning, all that was needed was three outs to finally retrieve that long-awaited win. All eyes were on Nelson as she took the mound for the final inning.
After walking Grinnell’s lead-off hitter on a hit-by-pitch and throwing a wild pitch right after, nerves started to become evident. But remember, this isn’t Nelson’s first rodeo. In her fifth season of collegiate softball, Nelson knows when adjustments are needed. After a deep breath and resetting, Nelson bounced right back, striking out Grinnell’s batter for the first out of the inning.
With the next batter at the plate for Grinnell, they managed to connect with the ball, sending it to right field. With great awareness, fifth-year Alycea Burnett calmly caught the ball to earn the Prairie Fire’s second out. Grinnell’s third batter of the inning proceeded to enter the batter’s box. Nelson’s first pitch caught the inside of the zone for strike one. Nelson then sent an off-speed pitch towards the plate, with Grinnell’s batter making contact and popping it up in the infield.
In what seemed like slow motion, the ball slowly hung in the air with everyone watching. It was finally time. As the ball came crashing down, Poetzinger positioned herself perfectly to retrieve the game-ending out for the Prairie Fire.
For the Knox College faithful and Knox softball supporters, this win was remarkable. But to the softball program, this meant just a bit more. Having every player rush toward Coach Hipp and embrace her with hugs immediately following the final out demonstrated the admiration the players have for their coach.
“It felt like an out-of-body experience,” Coach Hipp said following Monday’s win. “We’ve been chasing it and have been close a couple of times already, but haven’t been able to push past the finish line. I think energy [was important] today. I think we did a great job controlling what we can control. Coming back, staying in the game, and putting runs up on the board in more than one inning was a really big key for us today.”
Despite going on to lose the second game of the doubleheader, no one can deny that Monday afternoon was a special day in athletics for Knox College as a whole. With Coach Hipp earning her first win as a head coach in her young and bright coaching career, the vibes surrounding the win encapsulate what Knox College athletics are all about. A close-knit bond where everyone supports each other’s victories, no matter how tiny or large one’s achievements are.
In sports, success isn’t always measured through wins and losses. When sports gifts us moments like this, we realize the ability sports have in bringing a community together. Forget ending the losing streak. This win revolved around program pride, resilience, and camaraderie. While the numbers on paper may not reflect it, there is a new culture being built behind closed doors that will make this team one to watch in the coming years.
