The Hawks believe they can score runs. The Hawks believe they can shut teams down. The Hawks believe — truly believe — they can compete with anyone.

And they’re playing like it too.

South Hamilton rolled up 11 more hits, keyed by a three-run bomb to left field by Cortney Harris, and took apart Nevada, 8-0, in a Heart of Iowa Conference contest at the Mike Penning Athletic Complex Friday night.

“This was our best game,” South Hamilton head coach Harry McMaken said. “We played error-free, Jessi (Harms) pitched a really good game and we continued to hit the ball hard every time.”

South Hamilton pitcher Jessi Harms struck out nine batters in an 8-0 win over HOIC rival Nevada Friday night in Jewell. Photo by Angela Hewitt

And it was over early.

South Hamilton (4-1, 3-0 HOIC) touched Nevada hurler Brooklyn Jensen for a first-inning run and then expanded the lead to 4-0 in the second. Kenzy Grady roped a RBI double into the gap in right-center and Lily Skartvedt blooped a RBI single to right in the second.

Four more runs in the fourth frame put the contest out of reach. Harris delivered the decisive blow when she took Jensen out of the park for her first home run of the season.

“We hit the ball well, we attacked it … it’s a confidence thing right now,” McMaken said. “The chemistry on this team is great too. They play loose.”

Harris, Skartvedt and Hailey Diersen all produced two hits. Emma Lewis turned on the burners for a triple, Harms laced a double, Breanne Diersen plated one with a base knock, and Krista Swenson singled.

Nevada (2-2, 1-2 HOIC) registered just five hits — all singles — off Harms, who continued to do the job in the absence of all-conference pitcher Taylor Volkmann. Harms struck out nine.

Volkmann did jump into the lineup at second base. McMaken is hopeful she is close to returning to full-time duty.

“It was nice to have Taylor back,” he said.

South Hamilton will host Saydel this evening at 7 p.m.

South Hamilton 8, Nevada 0

Friday at Jewell

Nevada 000 000 0 — 0 5 3

S. Ham 130 400 x — 8 11 0

Brooklyn Jensen and Gracie Barloon. Jessi Harms and Hailey Diersen. WP — Harms. LP — Jensen. Multiple hits — SH: H. Diersen, Lily Skartvedt, Cortney Harris. 2B — SH: Harms, Kenzy Grady. 3B — SH: Emma Lewis. HR — SH: Harris. RBI — SH: Harris (3), Skartvedt, Grady, Breanne Diersen.