[Softball] Softball Falcons settle for split in final day of Tucson Invite
Tucson, Ariz. – The Friends University Falcons knocked off the Cottey College Comets 2-1 in the opener today (Mar. 14), but fell 7-6 in the last game when the St. Clair College Saints rallied from a four-run deficit in Tucson, Ariz.
The Falcons jumped out to a 4-0 lead against the Saints, with KCAC Player of the Week Carolyn Dallimore (SR/Patterson, Calif. ) involved from the outset. Dallimore reached on an error that allowed Aleigha Gale (JR/Winfield, Kan. ) to score the game's first run in the first inning before delivering her team-leading sixth homer of the season, a two-run blast that plated Alex Vick (FR/San Antonio, Texas) in the third.
Priscilla Mora (SO/Beaumont, Calif. ) then came home on a wild pitch for the Falcons' fourth tally.
But the Saints broke through in the fourth as a three-run double by Bryanna Kressler finished a six-run frame and gave St. Clair the lead.
The Falcons had an answer in the form of RBI singles by Jayden Estabrook (SO/Tracy, Calif. ) and Fallyn Marshall (JR/Syracuse, Utah) that tied the score at 6-6 in the fifth.
The Saints though had the last laugh in this one, getting a two-out RBI triple by Sierra Baltzer in the sixth that proved to be the game-winning tally.
Friends threatened in the bottom of the sixth, placing runners on second and third following a walk to Mora and a single by Becca Dunn (SO/Jurupa Valley, Calif. ). But Amy Claydon, who came on with one out in the inning, got a pop out in foul territory to escape the jam and then pitched a scoreless seventh to be credited with the win.
Marshall, Gale and Mora each recorded a pair of hits for the Falcons in the setback to St. Clair.
The Saints got two hits apiece from Jacklyn Yewchyn and Tara Tiessen.
In the victory over Cottey, Makenna Mitchell (SR/Orange County, Calif. ) staked the Falcons to an early lead with an RBI double in the seventh to bring home Dallimore in the second inning.
An RBI single by Gale plated Estabrook in the fifth to add to the lead and give starting pitcher Laila Spracklen (SR/San Diego, Calif. ) all she would need to finish out the win.
Spracklen struck out seven, walked four and gave up just one run on three hits over seven innings in the circle.
Dunn was a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate for the Falcons, while Marshall and Gale each produced two hits at the top of the lineup.
An infield single by Jenna Wilson scored Lauren Johnson in the sixth for the Comets' only run of the game.
Next up for the Falcons is KCAC action at home vs. Southwestern College Monday afternoon (Mar. 20) starting at 3 pm at Two Rivers Youth Complex.