Photo courtesy of Iowa Central Athletics: Jadeyn Stahr of Iowa Central pitches earlier this week at Rogers Park.

The 10th-ranked Iowa Central softball team secured the right to return home as regional tournament hosts by sweeping four games on the road this weekend.

Behind ICCAC doubleheader sweeps over Iowa Lakes and No. 22 North Iowa Area, the Tritons secured second place in the conference, earning the right to be the home school for the Region 11-B Tournament beginning Friday at Rogers Park.

On Saturday, the Tritons took care of Iowa Lakes, 6-0 and 5-2, completing a four-game season sweep of the Lakers. They followed that up with 5-4 and 3-2 victories over NIACC.

Iowa Central (45-8 overall, 22-6 in league) will play Ellsworth this Friday at 2 p.m. in the opening round of postseason action at Rogers Park. No. 14 Kirkwood and Northeast meet in the other game in the double-elimination tournament.

The winner advances to face the Region 9 champion for a spot in the NJCAA Div. II National Tournament.

“It’s is a great accomplishment for this team to host after placing second in the toughest league in junior college softball,” ICCC head coach Bo Tjebben said. “But we have to remain humble and take things one game at a time.

“We aren’t done yet.”

Jayda Long fired a two-hitter, striking out eight with just one walk to surpass 200 career strikeouts. She helped her own cause with two hits and a run scored, as Kaylee Cary blasted a home run.

Kyra Kain finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in the opener, as Cary had two hits and two runs while Reagan Enright drove in a pair.

A five-run fourth erased a 2-0 deficit in the nightcap for Iowa Central, as Enright plated three runs with a double. Cary also drove in a run as Jadeyn Stahr earned the win inside the circle.

In the opener vs. NIACC, the two teams traded blows late, with each scoring in the ninth after the Trojans forced extra innings with two runs in the sixth. Iowa Central won it in the 10th as Carly Ryan finished with two hits and two RBI.

Bre Nolte and Cary also had two hits each as Abagail Winter picked up the win in relief.

Stahr controlled NIACC in the nightcap, striking out three while scattering seven hits. At the plate, Cailyn Hardy was 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Cary drove in two.

The Tritons finished the regular season 15-3 at Rogers Park in their inaugural year on the new field.

“We’ve had tremendous support all year long and I would think that would continue in the postseason,” Tjebben said. “These girls have worked so hard and it has been a joy getting to watch them grow and coach them.”