[Softball] Softball Falcons Settle for Split at York

York, Neb. – The Friends University Falcons took the first game over the York College Panthers 6-3 today (Apr. 13), but the Panthers stormed back to win the second tilt 10-9 to snap the Falcons' winning streak at eight games.

Kylie Fox (SR/Wichita, Kan. ) staked the Falcons to a lead with a two-run double in the third inning of the opening game.

After the Panthers got on the board with a run in the sixth, it was again Fox coming through with another two-run double in the seventh. Renee Downey (JR/Modesto, Calif.) then capped the inning with a two-run single to put the Falcons in front by five runs.

The Panthers got a two-run single from Laura Leos in the bottom of the seventh, but Hali Walters (SO/Longmont, Colo.) shut the door with a flyout to end the game.

Walters continued her run of stellar pitching, going seven innings with no earned runs allowed and striking out six.

Fox had a career-high four hits in going a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate and driving in four runs. Shelby Belloni (SR/Denver, Colo. ) and Isabella Gonzalez (SR/Bakersfield, Calif.) each had three hits for the Falcons.

Alysia Rodriguez gave up four earned runs with five strikeouts over seven innings in the first game for York.

The nightcap also looked promising for the Falcons, as Kat Davis (FR/Keller, Texas) doubled home Belloni and scored on a single by Ruley to make it 2-0 in the first inning.

Selena Gomez hit a two-run double to key a four-run second inning for York, but Ruley answered by unloading her first-career home run, a two-run blast in the third that tied the score.

Ruley then doubled home two runs in the fourth before Mackenzie Nichols (SR/Columbus, Ohio) smashed a two-run homer to finish a four-run frame and put the Falcons up 9-5.

Leos brought the Panthers closer with an RBI single in the fifth and then drove home the eventual winning tally with another single in the sixth to cap a five-run sixth inning. The entire rally came with two outs in the inning that was also aided by a pair of Falcon miscues.

Ciera Montalvo then stranded two runners in the seventh to pick up the win for the Panthers. Montalvo got the win after pitching three innings in relief and allowing one run and striking out three.

Alicia Dunagan (SR/Douglass, Kan.) allowed eight runs over 5.2 innings, while Walters came on and gave up one earned run before getting the final out of the sixth.

Ruley's three hits and five RBIs are both career-high marks, with Davis tying her career-high with three hits. Nichols went 2-2 with three RBIs and Hannah Lang (FR/Topeka, Kan. ) also had two hits for Friends (18-15, 11-5 KCAC).  

Samantha Adami went 3-3 and had two RBIs to lead the Panthers (7-23, 7-9 KCAC) in the second game.

The Falcons will next play a makeup series at Ottawa University Monday afternoon (Apr. 15), starting at 2 pm in Ottawa, Kan.  Friends is currently in fourth place in the KCAC, percentage points behind 9-3 Ottawa.