Softball Rallies in Game 2 to Complete Series Sweep
(McPherson, KS) – In a non-conference double-header against McPherson, the Hastings Broncos got five shutout innings, giving up only one hit, from senior pitcher Kiera Brack and the offense scored eight runs in the first two innings of game one to win, 10-0. In game two, Hastings led 2-0, then after McPherson took a brief 3-2 lead, the Broncos came back in the sixth with four runs en route to a 7-3 win.
(McPherson, KS) – In a non-conference double-header against McPherson, the Hastings Broncos got five shutout innings, giving up only one hit, from senior pitcher Kiera Brack and the offense scored eight runs in the first two innings of game one to win, 10-0. In game two, Hastings led 2-0, then after McPherson took a brief 3-2 lead, the Broncos came back in the sixth with four runs en route to a 7-3 win.
Three straight singles by the Broncos loaded the bases to start the game and senior Lauren Lee walked to bring in senior Katyn Kappler from third. Senior Ana Medeiros brought in sophomore Sofia Carroll on a fielder's choice, then with two outs, freshman Jenna McClain singled to left to bring in Lee, making it 3-0 after one.
Hastings loaded the bases in the second inning on two walks and a hit-batter. With two outs, Medeiros drove in two more on a base hit. Senior Lexie Mudloff scored junior Kaylee Pinneo from third on an error. McClain hit a two-run RBI double to left to bring in Mudloff and Medeiros and put Hastings up 8-0 after two, as they scored five runs on two hits in the inning.
In the fourth, Medeiros singled and Hastings loaded the bases again with one out. Kappler made it a 10-0 lead, reaching on an error and scoring Medeiros and McClain on the play. The Broncos kept the shutout the rest of the way to take the 10-0 win.
Brack allowed just one hit in five, coming in the third inning, and had five strikeouts in her five-inning shutout win. McClain was 2-3 at the plate with three RBIs. Kappler was 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Carroll finished 2-4 with one run scored. Medeiros also had a multi-hit game, going 2-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
In game two, Hastings broke the scoreless tie in the third inning, starting with senior Sam Skinner reaching on an error. With Skinner on second and two out, Kappler drove in Skinner on an RBI single to go up 1-0.
McPherson had runners on second and third with one out in the next half inning, but sophomore pitcher Dani Sitts got a strikeout and flyout to end the inning. Skinner doubled up the Hastings lead at 2-0 on a two-out RBI single to score Medeiros from second in the bottom of the fourth.
The Bulldogs rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom half of the fifth. They got a pair of one-out walks and scored their first run on an RBI single, then added two more runs on a passed ball and sac fly.
Lee led off the sixth with a solo home run to tie it at three. The next four Broncos reached base safely, turning a bases-loaded situation into a two-run RBI single by Skinner. Kappler put the ball in play and scored McClain on a fielder's choice to go up 6-3. McClain tacked on a run in the seventh on an RBI single to right that scored Lee, following her base hit and stolen base, as Hastings won it 7-3.
Lee went 3-3 with a walk and two runs scored, Skinner was 2-4 with three RBIs and one run scored, and Mudloff was 2-4 and a run scored. Sitts pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned), and striking out eight. Sophomore Kassidy Beavers pitched the final two scoreless innings, not allowing a hit and striking out two Bulldogs.
Up next, Hastings will play at Sterling in a double-header on Tuesday, Feb. 17, starting at 1pm.
