[Softball] Softball Falcons Rally in Opener vs. OKWU; Second Game Charge Falls Short
WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons exploded offensively in the first game to come back for an 8-3 victory over the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles in a key KCAC series today (Apr. 21) at Two Rivers Youth Complex. But the Falcons couldn't quite overcome an early six-run deficit in the second tilt and fell 11-8.
The Falcons are now 16-6 in the KCAC and are third in the league, with Avila right behind at 13-6 and OKWU now 12-6.
Tahlor Stefek was rolling with a perfect game for the Eagles through the first four innings of the opening matchup, but the Falcons got going in a big way in the fifth.
Carolyn Dallimore (SO/Patterson, Calif. ) gave the Falcons their first hit on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth and Jennifer Garcia (FR/Sylamar, Calif. ) followed that with a double.
With Tatum Haney (SO/Derby, Kan. ) pinch running for Dallimore, Lacee Travens (SO/Reno, Nev. ) singled home both Haney and Garcia to put the Falcons on the board. Makenna Mitchell (SO/Orange County, Calif. ) then followed that with a three-run blast that suddenly had the Falcons on top 5-3.
Kaylen Lassley (SR/Salina, Kan. ) continued the offensive surge with a three-run homer of her own that plated Garcia and Savannah Jackson (JR/Ramona, Calif. ) to extend the lead to five runs.
That was enough for Hali Walters (SR/Longmont, Colo.), who put the finishing touches on the victory by striking out the final two batters of the game.
Walters fanned eight batters overall, with three runs allowed in her seven innings for her 13th win of the season.
Stefek finished with 10 strikeouts and five runs allowed in 4.2 innings for OKWU.
Garcia went 2-of-3 at the plate in the first game for the Falcons.
Sofia Cardenas had three hits for the Eagles, including a solo homer in the third for the first run of the game.
The Falcons played from behind throughout the nightcap, as the Eagles plated six runs before making an out in the first inning.
Dallimore doubled home Mitchell to help the Falcons answer back with two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Eagles got a two-run homer by Baylee Knorr in the second inning.
Mitchell wasn't done playing long ball and smacked her second homer of the night and fifth overall of the season in the bottom of the third to make it an 8-3 game.
Following a two-run homer by Payton Langley that pushed the Eagle lead up to seven runs, the Falcons would make things interesting with a five-run sixth inning.
The inning featured RBI singles by Mitchell, Davis and Gianna Tijerina (SO/Fort Lupton, Colo. ) along with a successful double-steal attempt that scored Meghan Low (JR/Collinsville, Okla.). But the Eagles escaped with the lead going to the seventh after Lassley was tagged out returning to second base following Tijerina's single.
Ashley Stone tripled to lead off the seventh and scored on a single by Knorr to give the Eagles a valuable insurance run.
Mazze Nelle then held the Falcons scoreless in the seventh to close out the win and pick up the save.
Mitchell had another good game at the plate with three hits in the leadoff spot for the Falcons. Davis and Lassley also each had two hits in the second tilt for Friends.
Michelle Kroell (SO/Clovis, Calif. ) started the second game for the Falcons (27-14, 16-6 KCAC) and gave up six runs and struck out one in one inning in the circle. Laila Spracklen (SO/San Diego, Calif. ) followed Kroell and pitched the final six frames, allowing five runs with six strikeouts.
Abbey Ely gave up eight runs (six earned) with four strikeouts during 5.2 innings to get the win for the Eagles (24-14, 12-6 KCAC).
The Falcons will next wrap up the regular season next Tuesday (Apr. 27) at home vs. Southwestern College.