HESSTON, Kan. — The Hesston College softball team dropped both games of a home doubleheader to Bethany College on Thursday afternoon, falling 8–1 in the opener before a high-scoring 17–5 loss in the second game.
Game 1 – Bethany 8, Hesston 1
The Larks struck first in the opening inning. Corlyn McGaha reached on an error and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before Ciara Mendez doubled to left field to bring her home and give Hesston a 1–0 lead.
Bethany tied the game in the fourth inning when Marissa Wells launched a solo home run to center field. The Swedes pulled ahead in the fifth after Emmaline Senecaut delivered an RBI single to score Alex Udy and make it 2–1.
Bethany added another run in the sixth when Ulissa Rivas singled home Abigail Taylor to extend the lead to 3–1.
The Swedes broke the game open in the seventh. After a leadoff double and single put runners on base, Ashaya Steele delivered a two-run double to stretch the lead. Marissa Wells followed with an RBI single, and Rivas later drove in two more runs with a base hit to cap a five-run inning.
Mendez led the Larks offensively with two hits including the RBI double, while Alexis Newlin added a single. Hesston finished with three hits in the game.
Game 2 – Bethany 17, Hesston 5
Bethany jumped ahead early in the second game, scoring once in the first inning before erupting for seven runs in the second to take an 8–1 lead.
Hesston responded in the bottom of the second when Mia Manzo singled and later scored on an RBI single from Skye Gomez to cut the deficit to 8–2.
The Larks continued to chip away in the fourth inning. Manzo doubled to lead off the frame and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before Bailey Symons delivered a bunt single to drive in a run. Later in the inning, Chloe Merjil singled to right center to bring home two more runs, trimming the lead to 8–5.
Bethany answered with a run in the fifth to extend the lead to 9–5 before a big sixth inning sealed the game. The Swedes scored eight runs in the frame, capitalizing on several hits and defensive miscues to pull away.
Manzo paced the Larks with three hits and two runs scored, while Merjil recorded two hits and two RBIs. Gomez and Symons each added an RBI as Hesston totaled 10 hits in the game.
Hesston will return to action Saturday, March 14, when the Larks travel to Newman University for a doubleheader.
