The Washington Demons completed a series sweep of a conference softball rival when they knocked off Keokuk 13-3 in five innings last night. Washington scored five runs in each of the first two innings and never looked back.

Freshman Leighton Messinger led the Demon lineup with three hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Outfielder Ella Greiner hit her fifth home run of the season in a two-hit night and had four runs batted in and two runs scored. Fellow sophomore Bella Salazar also had two hits and two RBI.

Sophomore Lauren Hinrichsen finished with two runs scored and two driven in, while senior Haley Mitchell and eighth-grader Colbie Greiner each had a hit and scored twice for the Demons, who are now 10-2 in the Southeast Conference and 18-10 overall. Washington returns to action tomorrow when they host the Eddie Jones Memorial Tournament. The Demons have two games against Davenport West and Highland.

Washington baseball nearly pulled off a conference win in a pitcher’s duel, as senior Ethan Patterson broke up a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Caleb Zieglowsky. But Keokuk tied the game in the bottom of the fourth and scored twice the next inning on their way to a 3-1 victory.

Starting pitcher Conner Leyden gave up just three hits and two walks in four innings while striking out three. The Demons fall to 4-8 in conference play and 4-16 overall ahead of a trip to Williamsburg this evening.