IOWA — Kamryn Howard hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give Iowa the lead, and another in the fifth, to end the game as the Yellow Jackets beat Bell City 12-2 in five innings on Thursday.

Iowa (13-5) won its sixth consecutive game and has scored double-digit runs in five straight.

Howard said she wasn’t swinging for the fences, both line drives over the left-field fence.

“I was just focused on hitting line drives and that’s where they landed,” she said. “I’ve been playing pretty good as an individual, but I still have to keep working. As a team, I feel like we’re playing really well, but there is always room for improvement so we have to keep working towards that.”

The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for Bell City (12-2). The Bruins are second in the Class B power ratings.

“We’ve done a pretty good job this season, we just struggled a bit pitching today,” Bruins head coach Whitney Rabalais said. “We missed spots today.

“On the year, we have been hitting the ball pretty well and making adjustments on defense. We have a good group of girls. They are hungry. We have never won a second-round playoff game. Our first goal is to do that, then hopefully set a new goal afterwards.”

Arlee Darbonne picked up the win for Iowa, allowing a two-run homer to Mary Wicke in the first inning but then holding the Bruins to three hits the rest of the way.

“She spotted up well, spun the ball great,” Iowa head coach Kenzie Singletary said. “She was on today, didn’t throw very many balls.”

Calee Guillory hit a homer and scored two runs for Iowa. Alivia Singletary had three singles and scored two runs.

Payton Herpin went 2-for-3 to lead Bell City.