Photo by Jean St. Fleur

Lawrence, Kan. – The Central Christian College softball team was back in action on Tuesday, on the road at Haskell Indian Nations University. The Tigers and Fighting Indians met two weeks ago on the Tigers' home diamond with the result turning out to be a sweep for the Tigers.

This week, the result was the same, but the Tigers had to work a lot harder.

Game 1: W, 3-1

The key statistic in game one on Tuesday was runners left on base. The Tigers hit the ball well, but struggled to push runs across when runners reached base. In the end, the Tigers left six runners stranded on base, the majority in scoring position.

The Tigers got on the board first in the top of the third innings on an RBI single by Isabel Vaughn that scored Ashley Vaccaro. In the top of the seventh, the Tigers got two very big insurance runs. Camryn Frick and Abby Schleisman scored on an RBI double by Vaccaro, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead heading into the final half inning. The Fighting Indians got on the board in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and had a runner on third base with the tying run at the plate. Fortunately the Haskell rally stalled and the Tigers got the final out on a groundout to second base.

Hitting: The Tigers scored three runs on eight hits. Seven of the eight were singles, the other was a double by Vaccaro.

Pitching: Madalyn Griffin picked up her fifth win of the season with a gem in game one. She pitched a complete game, surrendering just one run and scattering four hits. She finished with six strikeouts and just one free pass.

Leaders

Hits:                             Ashley Vaccaro (3)

Doubles:                     Ashley Vaccaro (1)

Triples:                        none

Homeruns:                 none

RBI:                             Ashley Vaccaro (2)

Stolen Bases:              Ashley Vacarro, Camryn Frick (1)

Strikeouts Pitching:   Madalyn Griffin (6)

Put Outs:                    Carmen De La Cruz (8)

Assists:                        Camryn Frick (2)

Game 2: W, 13-8

Thanks to six defensive miscues, the Tigers had to come from behind to take game two. Fortunately the bats came alive to make up for the errors by the defense.

The Fighting Indians scored their first two runs of the game without recording a hit. For the first four innings, the scoring went back and forth. Haskell led 1-0 after the first inning, then the Tigers scored two in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Haskell tied the game with another solo run in the bottom of the second, but the Tigers again responded with a pair of runs a half an inning later to retake the lead 4-2.

Haskell tied the game again in the bottom of the third 4-4. In the fourth, the Tigers scored one to retake the lead 5-4, but the Fighting Indians scored two in the bottom half to take the lead back 6-5. The Tigers finally broke the game open in the fifth inning scoring seven runs on eight hits including two doubles.

Haskell scored twice more and the Tigers added a run in the top of the 7^th to make the final score 13-8.

Hitting: The Tigers scored their 13 runs on 19 hits. Fifteen of the Tiger hits were singles, the other four were doubles by Vaughn, Amberly Barrera, Destiny Holt, and Halee Wallin

Pitching: Sara Lynch got the start in the circle for the Tigers in game two. She allowed six runs, though only two of them were earned, on three hits. She finished with five walks and no striketouts. Kayla Voss came on in relief of Lynch in the fourth inning. She went the rest of the way, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. She fanned two and walked none in earning her first win of the season.

Leaders

Hits:                             Camryn Frick, Isabel Vaughn, Halee Wallin (3)

Doubles:                     Isabel Vaughn, Destiny Holt, Amberly Barrera, Halee Wallin (1)

Triples:                        none

Homeruns:                 none

RBI:                             Abby Schleisman (3)

Stolen Bases:              Camryn Frick (2)

Strikeouts Pitching:   Kayla Voss (2)

Put Outs:                    Halee Wallin (15)

Assists:                        Camryn Frick (8)

Coach Quote: "Not our prettiest wins but any wins at this point in the season are good and a sweep is even better!" - Coach Scott Balbin

Next Up: The Tigers will return to SAC conference play this weekend in a four game series on the road against Langston University. Two games Friday starting at 3:00 pm and two more on Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm.