SALINA, Kan. — The Hesston College softball team dropped a pair of games to Kansas Wesleyan University on Wednesday (April 22). The Larks will wrap up their season on Saturday (April 25) as they play a road doubleheader against McPherson College starting at 1 p.m.
Game 1 – Hesston College 3, Kansas Wesleyan 9
Kansas Wesleyan took control early, capitalizing on Hesston miscues in the opening inning to score three runs. The Coyotes added a run in the fourth before breaking the game open with a five-run fifth inning, building a 9-2 advantage.
Hesston answered in the third inning when Merjil sparked the offense, helping plate two runs to cut into the deficit. The Larks added one more in the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback.
Chloe Merjil led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, including a home run. Skye Gomez, Mia Manzo and Alexis Newlin each added a hit for Hesston as the Larks totaled six hits in the game.
In the circle, Moriah Ortiz took the loss, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing nine runs, five earned, while striking out one. Bailey Symons provided relief, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings.
Kansas Wesleyan finished with 10 hits, led by Deja Rubio's 3-for-3 performance with three runs scored, while Cadence Mallet drove in two runs for the Coyotes.
Game 2 – Hesston College 0, Kansas Wesleyan 4
Kansas Wesleyan broke through in the second inning, using a pair of hits to take an early 1-0 lead. The Coyotes added to their advantage in the third, pushing across two more runs, and tacked on an insurance run in the sixth to secure the shutout victory.
Hesston generated early opportunities, recording two hits in the opening inning, but was unable to capitalize. The Larks finished with five hits in the game but stranded six runners and could not find a timely hit to break through.
Gomez led the Larks at the plate, going 2-for-3. Merjil, Manzo and Ciara Mendez each added a hit as Hesston totaled five hits on the afternoon.
In the circle, Kali Adams went the distance, pitching six innings while allowing four runs, just one earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts.
Kansas Wesleyan's offense was paced by MacKenzie Vela's two-hit performance, while Brooklynn Smith drove in two runs. Alli Mickelsen earned the win for the Coyotes, tossing a complete-game shutout and striking out eight.
