-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Sydney Wilson of Iowa Central hits a home run against Kirkwood on Thursday at Rogers Park

Jayda Long made sure there would be no repeat to the crazy offensive opener to the ICCAC season here Thursday between the No. 19 Iowa Central softball team and 10th-ranked Kirkwood.

While the Eagles picked up the opener at Rogers Park, 10-7, Long silenced their bats in the nightcap, leading the Tritons to a split with a 4-0 victory.

Iowa Central (20-3 overall, 1-1 in league) received all the production they would need off the bat of Kaylee Cary, who connected for a three-run homer in the third.

Long, a Southeast Polk graduate, was in control, scattering just four hits with three strikeouts to improve to 9-1 on the season. The sophomore has allowed only 14 earned run over 57-plus innings of work this year after going 14-8 a season ago with 87 strikeouts and a 2.86 earned run average.

“Jayda is just an incredible kid and it was so awesome to see her have an outing like that,” ICCC head coach Bo Tjebben said. “She had great command of her pitches. Her drop-curve and changeup were great, and she was hitting her spots.

“She isn’t the fastest-throwing pitcher, but her spin is just unbelievable. Even the umpires came up after the game and talked about how great her command of the zone was.”

It marked the first time Kirkwood (24-8, 1-1) has been shutout in the conference since 2021 vs. Indian Hills and only the second time this season, with the other coming Feb. 22 vs. No. 4 Copiah-Lincoln.

The homer was the first of the season for Cary, a sophomore who hit 10 last year.

“It was great to see Kaylee get that homer,” Tjebben said. “She’s been playing so sound on defense at shortstop for us.”

Natalie Rasmussen added a double and scored a run.

Sydney Wilson hit a three-run blast in the opener to make it 10-6 in the fifth in favor of Kirkwood. The Tritons walked 13 batters and hit another in the game, allowing the Eagles to take advantage.

“It was crazy to see us have a pitching performance like that,” Tjebben said. “Our pitching has been so solid all year and we just couldn’t get going.

“But the kids never quit and that is what I love about this group. They are a great bunch who really care for each other.”

Wilson was 2-for-2 with four RBI while Breanna Nolte and Kyra Kain each drove in runs. Kane also collected two hits with Nolte and Rasmussen both scoring twice.

Mischa Reiners, a freshman catcher for Kirkwood, is the daughter of former Fort Dodge Senior High standout Randy Reiners. She had a hit, two walks and a run scored on the day.

Iowa Central welcomes in North Iowa Area for another conference twinbill on Friday beginning at 2 p.m.