HESSTON, Kan. – The Hesston College softball team started their season with a series win over Frank Phillips College. The Larks swept the Plainsmen on Friday (Feb. 7) 9-6 and 14-12 before falling in the final game on Saturday (Feb. 8), 13-9. The Larks, 2-1 overall, will travel to Borger, Texas this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders against Frank Phillips starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 15) and noon on Sunday (Feb. 16).
Game 1 Hesston College 9, Frank Phillips College 6
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the third, the Lark offense exploded for eight runs in the frame and kept the Plainsmen bats at bay to win their season opener.
Frank Phillips College got on the board in the top of the second inning with an RBI double down the the right field line. A pair of fielding errors by the Larks and an RBI single from Savannah Sanchez put the Plainsmen up 4-0. The Larks plated one run in the home half of the inning as Alysha Kendrick led off with a double to left field and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Serena Hewes.
Hesston College flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the third, scoring eight runs on five hits to take the lead, 9-4. A couple of base hits and a walk loaded the bases for Hesston before Sydney Jackson drove in a run with a single to center and Kendrick drove in two more with an identical line drive. Hewes gave the Larks the lead with an RBI single of her own.
Sydney Jackson earned the complete game win for Hesston College. The pitcher allowed six hits and six runs (one earned) over seven innings, striking out four and walking four.
The Larks tallied 11 hits in the game, with Jocilyn DeSmet going 3-for-4 at the plate. Kendrick, Hewes, and DeSmet each drove in two runs. The Larks ran wild on the base paths, tallying seven stolen bases for the game with DeSmet and Trista Barrett each swiping two bags.
Game 2 - Hesston College 14, Frank Phillips College 12
After throwing a complete game victory in the first game, Sydney Jackson drove in five runs on two hits to help the Larks clinch the sweep of Friday's doubleheader.
Bats blistered as Hesston College collected 14 hits and Frank Phillips College tallied 15 in the high-scoring game.
Frank Phillips College got on the board in the first inning after Savannah Sanchez singled, scoring two runs.
The Larks posted another eight-run inning on seven hits in the bottom of the first led by Jackson who drove in three runs. Kendrick, Barrett, Savannah Jackson and Julie Jones also recorded RBI's in the frame.
Frank Phillips College scored seven in the top of the third to tie the game. The inning was highlighted by a three-run blast by Neveah Rodriguez.
The Larks jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a Plainsmen fielding error and another double by Kendrick, scoring a pair of runs, but FPC tied the game in the top of the fifth and took the lead in the sixth, 11-10.
Hesston College made the score 14-11 in the bottom of the inning with help from a double from Jones, scoring two runs, and another single from Jackson, scoring one.In the top of the seventh, the Plainsmen were knocking at the door after plating one run and with another runner in scoring position with two outs, but a diving catch by DeSmet in left field sealed the win.
Julia Moore earned the win for HC allowing nine hits and eight runs (six earned) over five innings, striking out two and walking two. Dusti Roberts appeared in relief for the Larks allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks through two frames.
Kendrick led the Larks with four hits in five at bats including a pair of doubles. Carly Lee and DeSmet also collected multiple hits in the contest.
Game 3 – Hesston College 9, Frank Phillips College 13
After leading by as many as four, the Larks were unable to hang on as they dropped the third game of their homestand against the Plainsmen.
The Larks jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a Barrett sacrifice fly and a single from Lee each scoring one run and an FPC fielding error scoring two.
The Plainsmen plated three runs in the third and fourth innings and two more in the fifth to take an 8-4 lead.
The Larks made a statement in the bottom of the sixth scoring five runs to retake the lead before FPC answered with five runs of their own in the last frame. HC was unable to spark a walk off as they fell 13-9.
Julia Moore took the loss for Hesston College. The hurler went one and one-third innings, surrendering five runs on five hits, striking out two and walking none. April Galicia opened the game for the Larks allowing eight hits and three runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking one.
HC piled up 11 hits in the game. Kendrick provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led Hesston College Larks with two runs batted in. The second baseman went 3-for-4 on the day with three doubles. Matalyn MacDowell, Lee, and Sydney Jackson each collected multiple hits.
