Plainview, Texas - Central Christian College of Kansas softball opened up Sooner Athletic Conference play this weekend by traveling down to Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. Coming into the matchup, the Tigers started out their season 5-3 with a statement series win over Division III Howard Payne University. Most recently, they split in a midweek doubleheader with Bethel College.
On Friday, runs were at a premium until later in the game as Wayland scored three in the 4th to break a 1-1 tie. The Tigers were unable to muster any other runs in this series opener as the Pioneers kept piling it on. Another three run inning in the 6th would see the Pioneers go up 9-1 invoking the 8 runs after 5 innings run rule to take game 1 of the series.
The second game saw much more offense from both teams.
Abby Schleisman smashed a homerun to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the second and the Tigers would bring across two more runs in that inning off of 3 more hits. Schleisman would continue to have a game as she knocked in two more rbi's with a double in the third to stretch the lead to 6-1 in favor of the Tigers.
Wayland would fight back though, scoring 5 runs between the third and fifth innings to even the score at 6-6. In the top of the 7th,
Chelsie Hirtler would give herself some run support as she hit a bases loaded triple, scoring all three Tigers for a 9-6 lead. This would be enough for the Tigers to close it out and take game 2 of the series.
With the series at 1-1, the Tigers looked to continue their momentum from the second game yesterday. The Tiger offense would struggle in game 3 as they would muster just 5 hits in the six innings. Wayland continued to pile up the runs, scoring 8 runs in six innings for another run rule to take a 2-1 series lead.
Down 2-1 in the series,
Clarissa Rejino was on the mound to try and salvage a split for the series. The Tigers would strike first in the third inning after an error plated the first run of the game. They would add on two more as Hallie Thomas drove in two runs on a single to stretch the Tiger lead to 3-0. Wayland would break the game open, exploding for 6 runs in the 4th inning and one more in the 6th inning to take a 7-3 lead in the game.
Paige Major would hit a two run double in the seventh in hopes of a comeback but the Tigers would fall 7-5 and drop the series 3-1.
The Tigers now move to 6-6 overall and 1-3 in SAC play. They return home to face Oklahoma Panhandle State University on March 6th and 7th. First pitch on Friday is set for 3pm. The games will be streamed live on the SAC Sports Network and Urban Edge Network.
