[Softball] Softball Falcons settle for split at Bethany

Lindsborg, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons defeated the Bethany College Swedes 8-5 in the opening game before the Swedes gained a split with a 7-6 extra innings win in the second outing today (Mar. 25) in Lindsborg, Kan.

The split puts the Falcons at 16-8 overall and tied for fourth in the KCAC with a 4-2 league mark.

Becca Dunn (SO/Jurupa Valley, Calif. ) powered the Falcons in the first game with a career-high four hits, highlighted by an RBI single that capped a four-run first inning.

An RBI double by Laila Spracklen (SR/San Diego, Calif. ) in the second added to the Falcon lead before the Swedes started to rally behind a two-run double by Lilliana Martinez in the bottom of the third.

The Falcons responded with two of their own in the fourth on an RBI single by Fallyn Marshall (JR/Syracuse, Utah) and a sacrifice fly from Carolyn Dallimore (SR/Patterson, Calif. ).

But Martinez again brought the Swedes closer with a three-run homer in the fifth to make it a two-run game.

The Falcons then got a valuable insurance run when Makenna Mitchell (SR/Orange County, Calif. ) drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Marshall in the sixth.

Then with Martinez representing the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, Spracklen induced a fly out to close out the victory.  

Marshall scored three runs and had two hits at the top of the lineup, with Spracklen going 2-of-2 and Mitchell driving in a pair of runs. Spracklen also went seven innings and gave up five runs with six strikeouts to earn the win.

Martinez anchored the Swedes with five RBIs in the first game.

The Falcons also got off to a good start in the second game, with a two-run single by Dunn and a two-run homer by Dallimore making it 4-1 in the third. The homer was Dallimore's 10th of the season and ties her with the Swedes' Martinez for the top spot in the NAIA.

The fourth inning saw the Falcons add to the lead with RBI singles from Aleigha Gale (JR/Winfield, Kan. ) and Spracklen.

But it was all Swedes from there, as an RBI single from pinch hitter Maggie Heath in the fifth was followed by a three-run homer by Martinez and a double from Myranda Jimenez in the sixth inning that tied the score at 6-6.

Still 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Spracklen kept the game tied by getting a strikeout and fly out to escape a first and third jam and send the game into extra innings.

But in the bottom of the eighth, it was again Jimenez coming through with an infield single to drive home the winning run.

The hits were even at 12 apiece, with the Falcons getting two hits each from Marshall, Gale and Mitchell.

Amaris Guerra and Melinda Cratty each had three hits for Bethany (16-13, 7-1 KCAC).

Isabelle Schwien (JR/Denver, Colo. ) started and lasted 5.1 innings for the Falcons, allowing six runs and striking out three. Spracklen then pitched the final two frames and recorded four strikeouts while giving up just one unearned tally.

Martinez was the Swedes' second game starter and went all eight innings, surrendering five earned runs along with nine strikeouts.

The Falcons are next at York Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 27) starting at 3 pm in York, Neb.