Perfection! Dougherty Dominates with Perfect Game

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Third time's a charm.  After two previous attempts to finish a perfect game were nullified, Iowa Western Freshman Pitcher Olivia Dougherty achieved perfection on Thursday morning, dominating Central Community College-Columbus in a 10-0 run-rule victory.

Dougherty (12-6) came out of the gates on fire, needing just 66 pitches and 54 minutes to strike out 12 of the 15 batters that the Raiders brought to the plate.  The three remaining outs were a pair of popups to Allie Cromer at third base and a flyout to Emma Hague in center field.

The Reivers (27-13) backed her up offensively from the jump with Freshman Kacy Miller launching a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning.  The team added a run in the second, then poured it on with eight runs in the third, capped off by a 2-run double from Miller.

Dougherty matched her season and career high for strikeouts in a game, and it's the 7th time this season the right-hander has recorded double-digit punchouts.  

Game two saw the Raiders (17-21) load the bases with two outs, but starting pitcher Saydee Plummer induced a groundball to short, and Alix Bailey threw a strike to first base to end the threat.

Iowa Western kept the bats hot with Cromer launching her 8th home run of the season over the left field fence in the first inning.  Amelia Ehlert led off the third inning with a solo shot down the left field line to start a four-run inning.  The Reivers added one more in the 4th to make it 6-0 going into the bottom of the 5th inning. 

Miller led off the 5th with a single, then stole second base to put her in scoring position.  Mariah Herrera doubled to left center, then took third on the throw home from the Raiders.  Two pitches into Cromer's at-bat, Herrera crossed the plate on a wild pitch to end the game 8-0.

After stranding three runners in the first, Plummer allowed just two base runners the rest of the way to improve her record to 10-3.

Iowa Western is back at home on Wednesday, April 23rd, with a doubleheader against Southwestern CC.  The games will be streamed for FREE on the Reiver Sports Network.