The Cyclones tested their skills for the first time this season at the indoor N4C Dome Jamboree, March 1-2, splitting four games.
Right out of the gate, the Cyclones faced the five-time defending Division III national champions—Rock Valley College. Samantha Stahl started on the mound but was rocked early as the Golden Eagles jumped to a 6-0 lead. Moraine Valley answered with two runs in the second on RBIs from Morgan Kaminsky and Angela Abrand, but Rock Valley put five more on the board in the bottom of the second to widen the gap. Karly Krown relieved Stahl, but after allowing two runs she shut down the Golden Eagles the rest of the way. The Cyclones loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but after two consecutive strikeouts the rally faded. Despite the 11-2 loss, the Moraine Valley defense played an errorless game.
They bounced back in the next matchup with McHenry County College, winning 8-0 over five innings. Liz McCuan took the mound for a four-hit shutout. The Cyclones also turned their first double play of the season on a fly out to Morgan Moran in left field, who threw a strike to home plate as catcher Madi Davis applied the tag. The big hitters included Annabelle Fritz, who had two doubles in three hits; Moran, who hit a three-run homerun; and Jessica Coyle, who slammed two doubles. Abrand and Darcee Nichols each reached base twice and stole a base, continuing the hot hitting at the top of the order.
The following day, the Cyclones split another two, losing 13-6 to McHenry and winning 12-4 over Elgin Community College in five innings. Their first game saw seven errors after only making one in two games Friday. This led to eight unearned runs. However, hitting was still solid with Coyle and Fritz each hitting two doubles. Moran, Nichols and Abrand each had two hits including a double. Davis also had three hits while Nichols stole three bases.
The Cyclone bats busted out again in their final game to end on a high note. Both teams battled through the first three innings into a 4-4 tie until the Cyclones surged with a four-run fourth inning. They added four more in the fifth to win the outing. Abrand had three hits while Nichols, Moran, Davis and Donna Booe each had two. Mariah Martinez earned the win in the circle, allowing just one earned run on eight hits, walking three and striking out three.