[Softball] Softball Falcons Make it Two Consecutive Sweeps for Fifth Straight Win

WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons posted a sweep for the second straight day, this time dispatching of the Hastings College Broncos by scores of 9-0 and 5-3 today (Feb. 28) at Two Rivers Youth Complex.

The Falcons got complete game performances by both Hali Walters (SR/Longmont, Colo.) in the first game and then Michelle Kroell (SO/Clovis, Calif. ) in the nightcap.

Walters put together her most complete performance this season, blanking the Broncos over five innings with four strikeouts.

Makenna Mitchell (SO/Orange County, Calif. ) singled home a run to finish a three-run first inning in the opener before Jennifer Garcia (FR/Sylamar, Calif. ) stayed hot at the plate with a two-run triple in another three-run frame in the third.

The Falcons then put the finishing touches on the run-rule victory when Heather Scott (SO/Las Vegas, Nev. ) hit a sacrifice fly and two more runs crossed the plate on a two-out error in the bottom of the fifth.

Garcia had two hits in two at-bats in the opening game for the Falcons.

In the second tilt, Carolyn Dallimore (SO/Patterson, Calif. ) fueled the Falcons' offensive attack with three hits, including a pair of doubles and one run scored.

Much like the first game, the Falcons struck first as Dallimore singled and Meghan Low (JR/Collinsville, Okla.) crossed the plate on an error.

After Dallimore hit a one-out double in the third that led to Garcia singling home pinch runner Madison Smith (SO/Murrieta, Calif. ), the Broncos tied the score by capitalizing on a two-out error that led to two runs in the fourth.

But Dallimore doubled again to lead off the fifth and came home with the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Mitchell.

The Falcons then picked up a pair of valuable insurance tallies as Garcia drove home Aleigha Gale (FR/Winfield, Kan. ) to cap a two-run sixth inning.

Hastings made some noise and scored a run in the seventh and placed the potential tying runs on base, but Kroell induced her career-high tying ninth strikeout of the game to close out the Falcons' victory.

"It was great to see Hali come out today and pitch so well!" said head coach Suzanne Unruh. "Hali, Michelle and Ashlyn Jacobs (SR/Valley Center, Kan. ) get better each time in the circle! We knew early this fall we'd have a really strong pitching staff. I think they all have a close relationship and support each other so well. It's so exciting to see great pitching and a powerful offense work so well together this early in the season!"

The Falcons (5-1) got two hits apiece from Gale, Garcia, Kaylen Lassley (SR/Salina, Kan. ) and Vanessa Sigala (FR/Carson, Calif. ) in recording 14 hits overall in the nightcap.

Kylie Adden was 2-3 at the plate in the second game for the Broncos (4-6).

All three of the runs charged to Kroell were unearned and she walked just two.

Hannah Norquest pitched six innings for Hastings and struck out seven and walked one with four earned runs allowed.

The Falcons will next host their annual Invitational next weekend, set for Friday-Sunday (Mar. 5-7).