The Hesston College softball team wrapped up their season with a pair of KJCCC doubleheaders against Johnson County Community College (May 1) and Independence Community College (May 3). The Larks fell twice to the Cavaliers in KC before splitting with the Pirates to close out the season. The Larks finished the year 5-28 overall and 3-19 in conference action.
Game 1 – Hesston College 1, Johnson County CC 9
Johnson got on the board first plating a run in the bottom of the opening frame, but the Larks responded as Julie Jones scored on a sacrifice fly by Anna Mcintire. The Cavaliers added four runs in the home half and scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to win game one in five innings.
Alysha Kendrick and Kyrsten Pauley each recorded a hit for Hesston.
Julia Moore was the losing pitcher allowing seven runs on nine hits and a walk while striking gout two batters in 3.2 innings of work.
Game 2 – Hesston College 2, Johnson County CC 10
The Larks took an early lead as Jones crossed the plate for the second time that day, this time on a fielder's choice. JCCC took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning manufacturing seven runs. The Cavaliers added three more runs in the fourth. Trista Barrett attempted to keep the Larks alive in the fifth with an RBI single to right field, bringing home Pauley, but the Larks were unable to scratch another run across as they fell in five innings.
Kendrick went 2-for-2 and Barrett and Pauley also recorded hits.
April Galicia took the loss allowing seven runs on four hits and three walks in 1.2 innings.
Game 1 – Hesston College 9, Independence CC 10
The Larks drew first blood as Kendrick hit a solo home run in the second inning. The Pirates responded with four runs in the third inning. Jones chipped away at the Indy lead with an RBI single, but the Pirates answered with a pair of RBI hits to go up 6-3. The Larks tied things up in the sixth as Dayzi Mann drove in two runs with a double up the middle and later scored on an error before an RBI double by Jones and Serena Hewes stole home to put the Larks up 8-6. Indy tied things up in the home half scoring an RBI hit and an error. The Pirates had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but the Larks evaded the danger and sent the game into extra innings. In the ninth, the Larks scored a run a sacrifice fly, but the Pirates answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to win it walk off style.
Jones went 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and three RBI. Carly Lee also had multiple hits and crossed the plate twice.
Anndi Sharp took the loss allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in 3.2 innings.
Game 2 – Hesston College 5, Independence CC 3
The Larks took a 2-0 lead in the first with RBI hits from Kendrick and Grace Boling. They added to their lead in the third with an RBI single from Emery Martinez. Independence got on the board in the bottom of the inning with an RBI hit of their own. The Pirates tied things up in the sixth with a two-RBI single, but The Larks went back ahead in the seventh. Kendrick batted in the first run of the inning with a ground ball to the right side and Martinez wrapped up Hesston's scoring with her second RBI hit of the contest. Lark starter April Galicia hung on for the complete game win by sitting down the Pirates in the seventh for her second win of the season.
Kendrick, Martinez, Boling and Lee each had three hits in the game. Kendrick and Martinez each had two RBI.
Galicia allowed three runs on eight hits in her complete game win while striking out one batter.
