[Softball] Softball falls to Friends in home and conference opener

The results didn't set well with Kansas Wesleyan softball coach Taylor Reichard, but the day wasn't a complete loss.

 

Friends swept a Kansas Conference doubleheader from the Coyotes, 8-1 and 8-6, Wednesday at Bill Burke Park. It was the first KCAC action for the Coyotes and was the long and eagerly-awaited home opener after eight non-conference games were cancelled because of the weather. Wesleyan has lost six in a row and is 7-11 overall.

 

After struggling against Friends' starter Hali Walters in the opener, the Coyotes fell behind 7-1 in the second game before battling back in the final three innings.

 

KWU scored three runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh, forcing Friends' coach Suzanne Unruh to summon Walters to get the final two outs in the seventh.

 

"They definitely don't have a lack of fight, I'll give them that," said Reichard, who's in her first season at Wesleyan. "But it's always just a little too late and not enough.

 

"We've kind of been in a slump here and I wouldn't say it's hitting. It's more game-wise. And it seems like every team we're playing is coming up in clutch situations, and we're getting kids on and bases loaded and just stranding them. It just can't happen."

 

Samantha Banda (SO/Houston, Texas)'s fielder's choice scored Kayla Kruel (SR/El Cajon, Calif.) from third in the bottom of the fifth inning to trim the KWU deficit to 7-2. Alyssa Garza (JR/San Antonio, Texas) followed with a two-run double that scored Taylor LaGrange (SR/Mont Belvieu, Texas).

 

Friends added another a run in the top of the seventh, but the Coyotes made it interesting when LaGrange singled with one out and scored on Banda's home run to left field, making it 8-6.

 

Walters came in and got the last two outs to preserve the victory for the Falcons, who improved to 9-13 and 2-2.

 

KWU had 13 hits, two each by Tara Stubits (SO/Topeka, Kan.), Kruel, LaGrange, Banda and Garza. Banda also scored three runs to go along with the three RBIs.

 

Starter Anna Grace Williams (FR/Crandall, Texas) took the loss after recording only one out in the first inning after Friends scored twice on two hits. Stubits took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings.

 

Walters, a sophomore right-hander, was masterful in the opener for Friends, allowing four hits and one run in a complete-game effort. She struck out three and walked one.

 

Wesleyan scored in the fourth inning when Taylor Lenggenhager (JR/Austin, Texas) led off with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on LaGrange's ground out.

 

Stubits went the distance for the Coyotes, giving up eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits, striking out four, walking two and impressing her coach.

 

"She's the only kid I know who'll throw 14 innings and still ask me if she can throw tomorrow just as a way to try and get better," Reichard said of Stubits. "She does everything you ask of her.

 

"She's given up a lot of hits this year that don't deserve to be hits and her defense isn't playing well behind her. But she still comes out every inning and gives it her all. And there are those (pitches) that she places just perfect and it's a little bloop hit that you can't do anything about. I truly believe once we get our defense playing behind her she'll be a force to be reckoned with."

 

KWU had one error in the first game, none the second.

 

"We'll eventually put it all together," Reichard said. "Second game we played better defense, now we've got to string some offense together and play both at the same time."

 

The Coyotes have Thursday off before playing Saint Mary in conference doubleheader at 4 p.m. Friday at Bill Burke Park. The games were originally scheduled for Saturday, but moved up a day because of the threat of inclement weather.