By: Messenger Sports Staff 

ESTHERVILLE — Amber McKinney was in a groove and at the right time for the Iowa Central softball squad here on Monday.

With McKinney's power leading the way, the Tritons (20-21-1 overall, 7-9 ICCAC) posted a doubleheader sweep of 20th-ranked Iowa Lakes (27-13, 10-10).

The Tritons won the opener, 13-8, then closed out the sweep with an 11-2 victory.

Iowa Central trailed 8-4 heading into the seventh of game one when McKinney blasted a three-run shot. The contest went to extra innings, where McKinney did it again.

She blasted a grand slam and the Tritons plated one more run in the frame before closing the door in the eighth.

McKinney finished the contest 4-for-5 with the three home runs and nine RBI. McKinney had four homers and 10 RBI on the day.

"Amber had a huge day," said ICCC head coach Bo Tjebben. "She has been on fire the last 10 games."

Humboldt graduate Jori Hajek came up big at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored.

Riley Gilroy had two hits as well. Gilroy shut the door from the pitcher's circle, going two innings, allowing zero hits and striking out two.

"We've really been playing well and fighting back," Tjebben said. "We started slow, but the kids didn't give up.

"It's been like that all year. We've been right there in really close games. We just want to keep it rolling. It's fun to watch them getting better every day."

The Tritons' power sticks came to play in the nightcap as well, as they hit five more longballs to push the single-day total to nine.

McKinney and Hajek both went deep again. Myra Megli homered twice, and Sydney Ballard also cleared the fence.

Megli had two hits and drove in four. McKinney and Gabriella Taber had two hits each. Taber recorded two doubles.

Gilroy picked up the five-inning victory, allowing four hits and striking out five while walking three.

The Tritons are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Creston to face Southwestern.