[Softball] Softball Falcons Walk Off Twice to Sweep Bethany

WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons swept the Bethany College Swedes today (Mar. 30) at the Two Rivers Youth Complex to improve to 5-1 in the KCAC and momentarily take over the top spot in the conference.

The Falcons won a pair of walk-off wins today, 6-5 in the opener and then 12-4 on the run rule in six innings.

After watching a two-run triple by Courtney Fudge key a four-run sixth inning that pulled the Swedes even at 5-5, the Falcons benefited from two errors to plate the winning run in the seventh.

Breannna Vest reached on an error to lead off the frame, advanced on a single by Kennedy Brunson (SR/Garden City, Kan.) before crossing the plate on another Bethany miscue.

The score was 1-1 when the Falcons gained control with a four-run third, getting RBI singles from Kaelyn Smith (SR/Tuscon, Ariz.) and Beth Cagle (JR/Enid, Okla. ) along with a sacrifice fly by Vest and a bases loaded walk to Kylie Fox (JR/Wichita, Kan. ).

Brunson went three-of-four in the first game for Friends, with Ciera Flores also contributing three hits for the Swedes.

Reaghan Burris (SR/Larned, Kan.) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and gave up one run to earn the victory.

Maci Walker (SR/Mansfield, Texas) started for the Falcons and went 5 1/3 frames, allowing four runs and striking out one.

In the nightcap, the Falcons exploded for eight runs in the sixth that turned a 4-4 gridlock into a run rule win.

The first three runners reached and Brunson drove home two of them with a single that put the Falcons ahead for good.

Following bases-loaded walks to Isabella Gonzalez (JR/Bakersfield, Calif.) and Shelby Belloni (JR/Lakewood, Colo. ), an error led to two more runs coming home and Vest then ended the game with a two-run double that plated Belloni and pinch runner Ashlyn Jacobs (FR/Wichita, Kan. ).

Vest had three hits in the second game for Friends (14-16, 5-1 KCAC), while Emily Escobar (SR/Bakersfield, Calif.) had two hits in two at-bats with two RBIs. Brunson and Fox also each drove in two runs for the Falcons.

Flores had three more hits for the Swedes (12-26, 3-5 KCAC) along with three RBIs.

Burris got the second game start for the Falcons and Heather Breslin (SR/Anchorage, Alas.) came on and pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win.

The Falcons will next play at McPherson College Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 7) at 2 pm in McPherson, Kan.