LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Hesston College softball team earned their first doubleheader sweep of the season on Saturday (Mar. 21) winning 10-2 and 12-10 over Haskell Indian Nations University. The Larks used a steady stream of offensive production to take down Haskell in their first CAC matchup. The Larks will hit the road this weekend for a four-game set with Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.
Game 1 – Hesston College 10, Haskell 2 (5 innings)
The Hesston College softball team opened its series against Haskell Indian Nations University with a strong offensive performance and solid pitching to secure a 10-2 win in five innings.
The Larks wasted no time getting on the board, erupting for five runs in the top of the first inning. After a walk and a single put runners on base, Ciara Mendez delivered a key double to drive in three runs, and Skye Gomez followed with an RBI double of her own. Gomez later scored on a wild pitch to cap the early scoring surge and give Hesston a quick 5-0 lead. Haskell answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, but that would be all the offense the home team could muster.
Hesston continued to add to its lead throughout the game. Gomez added another RBI in the second inning, Chloe Merjil drove in a run with a double in the third, and the Larks pushed across another run in the fourth. Hesston sealed the game with two more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Mia Manzo.
At the plate, Alexis Newlin led the Larks with three hits and two runs scored, while Gomez and Mendez each drove in three runs. Hesston finished the game with 10 runs on 10 hits and was aggressive on the bases with multiple stolen bases.
In the circle, Bailey Symons earned the win, pitching a complete five-inning game. She allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out eight and walking one, keeping Haskell scoreless after the first inning.
Game 2 – Hesston College 12, Haskell 10 (9 innings)
The Hesston College softball team completed the sweep over Haskell Indian Nations University with a high-scoring 12-10 victory in a nine-inning game on March 21.
After falling behind early, the Larks exploded for seven runs in the second inning to take control of the game. The rally was fueled by patience at the plate and timely hitting, highlighted by a three-run double from Chloe Merjil and RBI contributions from Corlyn McGaha, Mia Manzo and Ciara Mendez as Hesston capitalized on walks and defensive errors to build a lead.
Hesston added another run in the third inning on a sacrifice from Gabby Pantoja and pushed across a run in the fifth on Pantoja's RBI double to maintain the lead. Haskell responded with a big seven-run third inning to briefly take momentum, but the Larks settled in defensively and held Haskell scoreless from the fourth through the eighth innings.
The game remained tight until the ninth inning when Hesston scored three insurance runs. Abigail Cox delivered a key RBI triple and McGaha followed with an RBI single to extend the Larks' lead. Haskell added a run in the bottom of the ninth, but Hesston held on for the win.
At the plate, Hesston was led by Cox, who scored three runs and recorded a triple and RBI, while McGaha finished with two hits and two RBIs. Merjil also drove in three runs in the game, and Serena Hewes added two hits as the Larks totaled 10 hits and 12 runs.
In the circle, Hesston used multiple pitchers to secure the win, with Moriah Ortiz pitching the bulk of the later innings and helping the Larks close out the victory.
