[Softball] Softball Falcons Record Third Straight Split at Bethany

Lindsborg, Kan. – For the third straight series, the Friends University Falcons have come away with a split, this time at the Bethany College Swedes today (Apr. 17) in Lindsborg, Kan.  The Falcons remain in the fourth spot in the KCAC with a 13-7 conference mark.

The Falcons won the opening game 3-1 behind another terrific outing from starting pitcher Hali Walters (SO/Longmont, Colo.).

Walters held the Swedes hitless through the first four innings and surrendered just three hits and one run overall.

Bethany starter Kaitlyn Wagner also kept the Falcons off the scoreboard until the sixth inning, as Mackenzie Nichols (SR/Columbus, Ohio) led off with a single that led to Renee Downey (JR/Modesto, Calif.) driving home pinch runner Hunter Kincaid (SO/Aurora, Colo. ) for the game's first run.

Downey then scored to make it 2-0 on a bunt single by Isabella Gonzalez (SR/Bakersfield, Calif.).

The Swedes avoided the shutout with an RBI double by Courtney Fudge in the sixth, but Savannah Jackson (FR/Ramona, Calif. ) singled home Kat Davis (FR/Keller, Texas) in the seventh to give the Falcons the run back.

Walters then finished off the Swedes with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. She finished with three strikeouts in picking up her KCAC-leading 12th win of the season.

Jackson had two hits for the Falcons in the first game victory.

The Falcons trailed the nightcap 5-1 heading to the seventh inning before Nichols drilled a two-out, three-run homer to cut the deficit to just a run, but Lauren Quintana got a strikeout to end the rally and notch the save.

Shelby Belloni (SR/Denver, Colo. ) went 3-of-4 with one RBI at the plate in the second game for the Falcons (20-17, 13-7 KCAC), with Davis and Kylie Fox (SR/Wichita, Kan. ) each producing two hits.

Alicia Dunagan (SR/Douglass, Kan.) went 3.1 innings in making the start for Friends, allowing two earned runs and striking out one. Ashlyn Jacobs (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) then gave up one earned run in her 2.2 innings of work.

Emma Wager was 2-of-2 for the Swedes (15-25, 7-11 KCAC) with an RBI, while Ashley Nava lasted 4.1 innings in the circle with one run allowed.

The Falcons will next host Oklahoma Wesleyan University for Senior Day Saturday afternoon (Apr. 20) starting at 1 pm at the Two Rivers Youth Complex.