[Softball] Softball Season Preview: Falcons primed to defend KCAC tournament title

WICHITA, Kan. – For the second time in the past four years, the Friends University Softball Falcons are heading into a new season as the defending KCAC postseason tournament champions.

Much like their first run, the Falcons charged into the postseason playing their best ball of the season.

Under head coach Suzanne Unruh, the Falcons won 17 of 20 games, including their KCAC tournament triumph, prior to their NAIA National Tournament appearance. The Falcons then promptly upset the top-seeded team in the Henderson Bracket and No. 3 overall-ranked Freed-Hardeman University for their first NAIA Opening Round victory since 2013. 

The Falcons finished with 31 wins for the second straight season and appear ready for another run in the upcoming 2023 campaign.

Contributing to the Falcons' optimism this season is the return of seven All-KCAC performers from last season, including first-team selections Laila Spracklen and Priscilla Mora.

A true frontline starting pitcher while serving as a dynamic two-way player, Spracklen struck out a KCAC-high 229 batters on the season while ranking second in the conference in wins (19) and third in ERA (2.33). At the plate, the San Diego, Calif. native finished second on the team in batting average (.355), home runs (eight) and RBIs (34).

A native of Beaumont, Calif., Mora slugged a team-high 10 homers that tied for first in the KCAC and finished second in the league in RBIs (44). She batted .338 on the season and also led the Falcons in hits (51) and slugging percentage (.662).  For all her hitting heroics, it was Mora's glove that factored heavily in the KCAC tourney title game. With the Falcons leading McPherson College 1-0 and the tying run on first base with two outs, Mora got a good jump on a tailing line drive by Summer Garcia and made a diving catch in left field to clinch the championship for the Falcons.

Complimenting Spracklen in the circle will be KCAC honorable-mention pick Isabelle Schwien, who trended up down the stretch last season but saved her best when it mattered most. The Denver, Colo. native retired 16 of the final 17 batters she faced in the winner-take-all title KCAC tilt vs. McPherson College in a shutout victory.

Returning as the spark plug at the top of the Falcons lineup this season is Aleigha Gale.  A Winfield, Kan. native, Gale hit .282 last year and changed games on the base paths, ranking second in the KCAC with 31 stolen bases to earn All-KCAC honorable-mention recognition.

Another pair of All-KCAC honorable-mention hitters make their return this season to enhance the everyday lineup for the Falcons in Vanessa Sigala and Carolyn Dallimore.  Sigala hit .310 and drove in 25 runs last year, while Dallimore finished third on the team with 26 RBIs.

Makenna Mitchell, a KCAC honorable-mention selection in 2021, also returns for her fourth year with the team and will bring valuable experience at third base in 2023.

Picked second in the KCAC Preseason Coaches' poll and also receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll, the Falcons will officially kick off the 2023 season on the road at Kansas Christian College tomorrow (Feb. 18).  The Falcons will then have a tough test at preseason No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City University on Feb. 25 before opening up the home schedule the following day (Feb. 26) vs. Hastings College at Two Rivers Youth Complex. The annual Friends University Round Robin is set for Mar. 3-4, with the KCAC opener also at home on Mar. 22 against Oklahoma Wesleyan University.