SWEDES SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST BLUEJAYS

Lindsborg, Kan. - The Bethany College Softball team hosted the Tabor College Bluejays for a conference matchup. The Swedes dropped game one 4-2 as the Swedes allowed runs without being able to get them back at the plate. Bethany answered back in the second game, shutting out Tabor, 8-0. 

Game 1

Tabor got on the board in the top of the first inning, scoring from an infield error, making the score 1-0. 

The Swedes tied the game up at 1 in the bottom of the third inning when Lilliana Martinez singled on the first pitch to score Allison Rosa on two outs. 

The game was tied 1-1 until the top of the sixth inning until Savage hit a single, scoring Farren who led the inning off with a double to right field. Tabor then loaded the bases with an infield error and a hit-by-pitch. Gray then hit a single through the right side, scoring Savage and Ortega, making the score 4-1. 

In the bottom of the sixth Martinez took a ball for a ride over the center field fence, making it her 11th home run of the season and updating the score 4-2. 

The Swedes had runners on first and third with 2 outs in the bottom of the seventh inning before a groundout secured the win for the Tabor Bluejays. 

Sasha Martello started on the mound throwing 5.1 innings, allowing 7 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk and collecting 4 strikeouts. Cambree Aguirre came in for relief, throwing 1.2 innings, allowing 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and collecting 2 strikeouts. 

Lilliana Martinez went 2-for-3 at the plate with a single and a home run (11), collecting 2 RBIs. Kierstyn McMillen went 2-for-4 at the plate while Shantell Evans and Leah Rivera both went 1-for-3. Maggie Heath tallied the 7th hit for the Swedes as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 7th inning to extend the game. 

Game 2

Tabor got a base runner on second base in the top of the first from a double hit by Gillen. However, a fly ball to left field ended the inning, stranding Gillen on second base. 

Bethany got the ball rolling in the bottom of the first inning as the Swedes scored on a stolen base and a couple wild pitches, making the score 2-0. Shantel Evans then kept the momentum going hitting a single to left field. Evans put herself in scoring position with a stolen base and scored with a single to left field hit by Melinda Cratty. Cratty ended up on third base due to a throwing error resulting in the play. Maggie Heath then reached on an error, scoring Cratty to put the Swedes up 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning. 

To lead off the bottom of the second inning Kierstyn McMillen hustled down the line to beat out the throw on an infield ground ball and followed up with a stolen base, putting herself in scoring position. Destiny Espinosa then traded places with McMillen, with a double to left-center, making the score 5-0. Evans then tripled down the left field line on 2 outs, scoring Espinosa and putting the Swedes up another run, 6-0. Evans then scored on a passed ball, 7-0. 

Bethany then pushed a run across home plate in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game and secure the win. Lilliana Martinez reached on an error to the shortstop, making it to second base on an overthrow to first base. Martinez then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Cratty then put a bunt down and scored Martinez to end the game, 8-0. 

Lilliana Martinez threw a complete game shutout in game 2 against the Bluejays. Martinez threw 5 innings and allowed a double in the first inning, the first and last hit she would give up against the strong bats of the Bluejays. Martinez walked 0 and struck out 3 batters of the 17 batters she faced.

Shantell Evans went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and a base hit, collecting an RBI and accounted for 2 of the Swedes' 8 runs. Melinda Cratty went 2-for-3 with 2 singles, 2 RBIs and 1 run. Kierstyn McMillen went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored twice. Destiny Espinosa went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI double and also scored twice. 

Up next…

Swede Softball will be on the road this Saturday, April 1st in McPherson to play the Bulldogs. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

#RockarStockar