IOLA, Kan. – The Hesston College softball team dropped a paid of conference games to Allen Community College in their KJCCC opener on Thursday (Mar. 27). The Larks showed solid offensive production in both contests, but were unable to keep up with the Red Devils defensively. The Larks will be back home on Saturday (Mar. 29) as they host Kansas City Kansas Community College starting at 1 p.m.
Game 1 – Hesston College 9, Allen CC 17
The Larks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning of the opener on five hits including a pair of doubles by Alysha Kendrick and Mimi Castillo. Kendrick, Castillo, Kyrsten Pauley and Trista Barrett all drove in runs for Hesston. Allen plated one run in the bottom of the inning, but the Larks answered with an RBI single from Kendrick to bring home Carly Lee who led off the inning with a double to center field. The Red Devils cut the lead to two runs with bases clearing double to right field, but Lee drove in her first run of the game in the third to put the Larks up 7-4. Allen added one run in the third and nine in the fourth to go up 14-7. The Larks clubbed two more RBI hits, including a triple by Lee, in the fifth inning to shrink the deficit, but the Red Devils scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to take the opener 17-9 in five innings.
Lee finished 4-for-4 in the game and just a home run shy of the cycle while batting in two runs. Kendrick went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and three RBI.
April Galicia took the loss for Hesston allowing nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits and three walks in three innings of work.
Game 2 – Hesston College 9, Allen CC 16
The Larks were the first on the board in the second game as well as Lee scored on a wild pitch after drawing a leadoff walk. The Red Devils responded with four runs in the home half to take the lead, but Hesston plated four runs of their own in the second to regain the lead. Lee drove in a run with a base hit to right before Kendrick cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field, her first of the season. Allen regained the lead in the third with a two-run home run, but Hesston fought back plating four runs in the fourth on a double by Lee and singles by Kendrick, Castillo and Julie Jones to put the Larks up 9-6. In the bottom of the inning Allen took the lead for good with a grand slam to left field. Allen added two more runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to secure the sweep.
Lee went 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI while Kendrick went 2-for-4 and batted in four runs. Castillo, Pauley and Dayzi Mann also recorded multiple hits.
Julia Moore took the loss for Hesston allowing 10 runs on 12 hits and three walks in 3.2 innings.
