Brouse pitches no-hitter, homers twice in Cyclone softball sweep

 HARLAN (June 21) -- Emily Brouse pitched a no-hitter in game one and went 5-for-8 with two home runs and seven RBI at the plate Monday night to lead Harlan Community to a doubleheader sweep of the Red Oak softball team.
 HCHS won by identical 10-1 scores at H. Jack Field, scoring at least three runs in five different innings throughout the twin bill.
 Brouse (9-6) kept the Tigers hitless in the opener, striking out 10 and walking two in seven innings. Tianna Kasperbauer (9-1) pitched a five-hitter in the night cap, striking out eight and walking one. Both Cyclone pitchers allowed one earned run.
 Julia Schechinger also had five hits for HCHS, batting a combined 5-for-6 with two doubles and four runs scored. Kate Heithoff, Kasperbauer and Aurora Miller all had three hits.
 The Cyclones tallied 25 hits all told and set the tone for the night with a three-run first inning in game one. Schechinger and Jordan Heese got things going with RBI doubles and Brouse added an RBI single.
 Harlan’s three-run fifth featured another Schechinger RBI double, a Heese sacrifice fly and a solo home run by Brouse.
 Schechinger finished game one 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored while Brouse, Heithoff (one triple), Kasperbauer and Miller (one double) all had two hits.
 HCHS also opened game two with a three-run first that was capped by Brouse’s two-run double.
 The Cyclones scored three more runs in the third on four hits, including Madison Schumacher’s first of two doubles in the game and a Miller two-run single.
 Brouse’s second home run of the night and fourth of the year - a three-run shot - highlighted a four-run fifth to make it 10-1 and gave Brouse three hits and five RBI for the game. Schechinger added a pair of singles and scored twice.
 Red Oak (4-17 overall, 2-12 in the Hawkeye Ten) got two hits from Jaydin Lindsay in the night cap and an RBI triple by Lexi Johnson.