HESSTON, Kan. — The Hesston College softball team dropped both games of a home doubleheader to Central Christian College on Tuesday afternoon, falling 7–5 in a competitive opener before losing 11–1 in game 2.
Game 1 – Central Christian 7, Hesston 5
Central Christian struck first in the opening inning. After two quick outs, Ashley Vaccaro tripled to right field and later scored on a Hesston error to give the Tigers a 1–0 lead.
The Tigers extended their advantage in the second inning with four consecutive hits. Hallie Thomas singled home a run before Aryanna Palfy drove in two more with a base hit to left field, pushing the lead to 4–0.
Hesston responded in the bottom of the second. Skye Gomez singled and Serena Hewes followed with a base hit. Abigail Cox laid down a bunt single to score Gomez, and Gabriella Pantoja reached on an error that allowed Hewes to cross the plate, cutting the deficit to 4–2.
Central Christian added two more runs in the third on a double by Jaci Jeffers and an RBI single from Baylee Blackburn to make it 6–2. The Tigers pushed the margin to 7–2 in the fourth when Vaccaro singled home a run.
The Larks mounted a comeback in the fifth. Corlyn McGaha walked and scored on a double from Chloe Merjil, and Ciara Mendez followed with an RBI single to trim the score to 7–4.
Hesston added another run in the sixth when Abigail Cox reached on an error and later scored on an RBI single by McGaha to make it 7–5. The Larks threatened in the seventh but were unable to complete the rally.
Merjil led Hesston with a double and an RBI, while Mendez, McGaha, Cox, Hewes, Gomez, Alexis Newlin and Pantoja each recorded hits.
Game 2 – Central Christian 11, Hesston 1
Central Christian quickly seized control of the second game with three runs in the first inning. After an error allowed a runner to reach, Abby Schleisman drove in a run with a single before two additional unearned runs scored to give the Tigers an early advantage.
The Tigers broke the game open in the second inning with five runs. Ciara Valadez tripled to left field to score a run before Aryanna Palfy drove in another with a groundout. Later in the inning, Jaci Jeffers singled home a run and Chelsie Hirtler added a sacrifice fly as Central Christian built an 8–0 lead.
Hesston got on the board in the third inning. Corlyn McGaha and Alexis Newlin both walked to start the frame, and Chloe Merjil delivered an RBI single to score McGaha and make it 8–1.
Central Christian added two more runs in the fourth on a two-run single from Hirtler before plating another run in the fifth to extend the lead to 11–1.
Merjil recorded Hesston's lone hit of the game and drove in the Larks' only run.
Hesston will return to action Thursday, March 12, when the Larks host Bethany College at home.
