Photo by Jean St. Fleur
McPherson, Kan. – The Central Christian College softball team played their first Sooner Athletic Conference home games this past weekend, hosting the Texas Wesleyan University Rams. The Tigers took two of four from the Rams to improve their record to 6-12 overall, and 3-5 in SAC play. Three of the four games on the weekend were close, the only exception was a 10-0 loss in game three. The other three games were decided by three runs or less.
Game 1: L, 3-1
The Tigers got the scoring started in game one in the bottom of the second inning when
Halee Wallin roped a double off the fence in center field to score
Amberly Barrera. Half an inning later, the Rams put up a three spot to take a 3-1 lead. That score would ultimately end up being the final tally as both offenses stalled in the final four and a half innings.
Hitting: The Tigers actually outhit the rams seven to six, but were unable to get key hits with runners in scoring position. Six of the seven hits were singles, the other was Wallin's double.
Pitching: Madalyn Griffin was in the circle for the Tigers in game one on Friday. Other than the top of the third, she pitched a good game. Unfortunately she just didn't get the offensive support she needed and was collared with the loss.
Leaders
Hits: Amberly Barrera,
Halee Wallin (2)
Doubles: Halee Wallin (1)
Triples: none
Homeruns: none
RBI: Halee Wallin (1)
Stolen Bases: Four Tigers (1)
Strikeouts Pitching: none
Put Outs: Camryn Frick (5)
Assists: Madalyn Griffin,
Iliana Luna (2)
Game 2: W, 4-1
The Tigers bounced back in game two to even the series. The Rams scored first in the top of the second, but the Tigers responded in their half of the second with a run scored on an RBI ground out by
Abby Schleisman to the right side of the infield, that scored
Halee Wallin from third base. The Tigers took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth on RBI doubles from Wallin and
Mariah Garcia, and an RBI single by
Serena Fisher.
Hitting: The Tigers found their groove at the plate in game two. They finished with nine total hits, five of them going for extra bases.
Pitching: Sara Lynch went the distance for the Tigers in the circle. She gave up just one run on four hits with eight strikeouts and four walks, improving her record to 3-5.
Leaders
Hits: Destiny Holt,
Halee Wallin (2)
Doubles: Destiny Holt (2)
Triples: none
Homeruns: none
RBI: Four Tigers (1)
Stolen Bases: Miranda Tegtmeier (1)
Strikeouts Pitching: Sara Lynch (8)
Put Outs: Halee Wallin (9)
Assists: Mariah Garcia (3)
Game 3: L, 10-0
Nothing went right for the Tigers in game three. The Rams' starting pitcher threw a gem, allowing just one Tiger hit on her way to a complete game shutout. The Tigers didn't help their cause much, committing four errors that led to three unearned runs.
Hitting: The lone Tiger hit was a double by
Ashley Vaccaro.
Pitching: Griffin was back in the circle for the Tigers to start the first game on day two. She got roughed up the by Rams to the tune of five runs on seven hits including a pair of home runs. Midway through the third inning, the Tigers went to the bullpen and brought in
Kayla Voss. She was credited with the other five runs, though only two of them were earned, also on seven hits. Neither Griffin nor Voss recorded a strikeout.
Leaders
Hits: Ashley Vaccaro (1)
Doubles: Ashley Vaccaro (1)
Triples: none
Homeruns: none
RBI: none
Stolen Bases: none
Strikeouts Pitching: none
Put Outs: Halee Wallin (9)
Assists: Iliana Luna (4)
Game 4: W, 3-2
Game four turned out to be an exciting conclusion to the weekend series, though the Tigers didn't get anything going offensively until the sixth inning. The first two innings neither team was able to get on the scoreboard. That changed in the top of the third with the Rams scored a pair of runs to go up 2-0.
They immediately put Brynna Foster, the game three winner, back in the circle to see if she could pick up where she left off from game three, locking down the Tiger hitters a the plate. The strategy worked for the next three innings. However, in the sixth inning the Tigers found a crack in Foster's armor and were able to tie the game with a pair of runs. The first run was on a sac fly by
Destiny Holt that scored
Camryn Frick from third. The tying run was scored on an RBI double from Barrera that scored Vacarro from second.
The Tiger defense and pitching was solid in the top of the seventh. Just one Rams' runner reached base, but was stranded. In the bottom half of the inning,
Mariah Garcia was due up first. She stepped into the batter's box 0-2 on the day with a fielder's choice and a fly out. She looked a ball on the first delivery from Foster. The second pitch was right down the middle, and Garcia didn't miss it. She got the barrel on the ball, sending it over the left center field fence, giving the Tigers a 3-2 walk-off win.
Hitting: The Tigers scored their three runs on seven hits with three of the seven going for extra bases.
Pitching: Lynch was back in the circle for the Tigers in the finale. She went the distance again, giving up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Leaders
Hits: Ashley Vaccaro (2)
Doubles: Camryn Frick,
Amberly Barrera (1)
Triples: none
Homeruns: Mariah Garcia (1)
RBI: Three Tigers (1)
Stolen Bases: none
Strikeouts Pitching: Sara Lynch (3)
Put Outs: Halee Wallin (7)
Assists: Mariah Garcia (3)
Coach Quote: "We had a very good weekend. We split against a very good conference foe. We are starting to put the pieces together and it is great to watch them grow. We put together two complete games and to end the weekend with a walk-off homer was an exclamation point on it all." – Coach
Scott Balbin
Next Up: The Tigers will be back on the diamond on Tuesday, going on the road to Overland Park, Kansas for a double header with the Kansas Christian College Falcons. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
