[Softball] Softball Falcons play long ball in first game of split with Spires

WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons hit three home runs in a 9-1 opening victory over the University of Saint Mary Spires today (Apr. 6) on Fan Appreciation Night at Two Rivers Youth Complex. The Spires then won the second game 4-2 to gain a split in the series.

Priscilla Mora (FR/Beaumont, Calif. ), the team's leading home run hitter, belted her ninth long ball of the season in the first inning to get the Falcons' offensive barrage underway.

In the second inning, an RBI single by Makenna Mitchell (JR/Orange County, Calif. ) was followed by Taylor Witter (FR/Perry, Okla. )'s three-run blast and a double from Vanessa Sigala (SO/Carson, Calif. ) that plated Laila Spracklen (JR/San Diego, Calif. ) to make it a 6-0 game.

With the lead at 6-1, Jennifer Garcia (SO/Sylamar, Calif. ) connected for a home run in the fifth inning and Meghan Low (SR/Collinsville, Okla.) then doubled in Aleigha Gale (SO/Winfield, Kan. ) in the sixth.

Spracklen was her typical, dominant self in the circle, winning for the 11th time this season after limiting the Spires to one run and striking out 10 (one shy of her career-high) in six innings.

Garcia, Sigala and Witter each had a pair of hits for the Falcons in the first game victory.

The Falcons (16-17, 7-7 KCAC) appeared to be on their way in the nightcap as well when Spracklen connected for a two-run blast, her seventh homer of the season in the first inning.

But Maria Howard, who came on in the first inning with a runner on and surrendered the homer to Spracklen, shut out the Falcons over the final six frames and struck out six.  

With two outs in the third, the Spires (16-16, 9-5 KCAC) strung together four straight hits and took the lead when Sadie McWilliams singled in a run and then scored on a two-run single by Autumn Giodano.

Abigail Kudym then hit a solo homer in the seventh to provide the Spires with a late insurance tally.

The Falcons will next be in action at Sterling College Saturday afternoon (Apr. 9) starting at 1 pm in Sterling, Kan.