[Softball] Softball drops pair to Benedictine
McPHERSON, Kan. – The Kansas Wesleyan softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader with the Benedictine College Ravens on Saturday 9-6 and 16-6 at Bulldog Park.
Saturday's doubleheader was moved to McPherson because field conditions remain unplayable in Salina at Bill Burke Park due to recent weather.
In the opener, the Coyotes rallied from a 5-0 deficit in to get within a run at 5-4, but a 4-run seventh by the Ravens proved to be too much as a late rally by Wesleyan came up just short as KWU fell 9-6.
The Coyotes stranded a pair of runners in the first after Tara Stubits (SO/Topeka, Kan.) and Taylor Lenggenhager (JR/Austin, Texas) both singled with two outs, but the Coyotes were unable to get a run across.
Benedictine scored twice in the top of the second inning and then added three more in the fourth inning to take the 5-0 lead.
Wesleyan broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Grace Gallagher (SO/Arvada, Colo.) opened the inning reaching on an error followed by an infield single by DeLayna DeMarte. Alyssa Garza (JR/San Antonio, Texas) drove in the first run with a double and a second run scored on the play thanks to a Benedictine error. Anna Grace Williams (FR/Crandall, Texas) added the third run of the frame with a RBI ground out.
Stubits led off the Coyote half of the sixth with a homer, her first of the season, but the Coyotes would strand a pair of baserunners.
Benedictine scored four runs in the seventh to push out to a 9-4 lead. The Coyotes didn't back down, putting together a rally in the bottom of the inning. Garza led off with a single, followed by a double by Williams. Kayla Kruel (SR/El Cajon, Calif.) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly and Lenggenhager drove in the second run with a single.
Lenggenhager had three hits to pace Wesleyan's 11-hit offensive output. Stubits went the distance in the circle, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 14 hits with four strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Benedictine used an 8-run seventh inning to pull away for the 16-6 win.
The Ravens scored three in the top of the second inning to take an early lead, but the Coyotes bounced back in the third, with two runs to draw within a tally. Williams and Lauren Blue (SO/Arlington, Texas) led off the frame with singles and Stubits reached on a fielder's choice. Lenggenhager drove in both runs of the inning with a single.
Benedictine added two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth inning before putting eight on the board in the seventh.
Wesleyan had a mini-rally in the bottom of the second inning. Williams singled and Blue walked to start things off for the Coyotes. A walk to Stubits loaded the bases and two batters later, Kirsten Redfern (FR/Keller, Texas) unloaded them with a grand slam to left field.
Williams and Blue had two hits each for the Coyotes. Williams took the loss in the circle, going six innings-plus before Valaree Reyes (SO/Round Rock, Texas) would finish out the seventh inning.
The Coyotes return to action for the true home opener on Tuesday, weather permitting, at 4 p.m. hosting the Hastings Broncos at Bill Burke Park.