Softball Opens Season With Two Loses to Ottawa
Ottawa, KS – The Hastings College softball team opened its season losing 8-0 and 4-3 to Ottawa on Saturday afternoon.
Ottawa, KS – The Hastings College softball team opened its season losing 8-0 and 4-3 to Ottawa on Saturday afternoon.
In game one, it was one inning that showed how much getting outside and practicing is so important. In the third inning the Braves would score seven runs but do it on just two hits while HC committed five errors in the inning. Hastings also struggled at the plate picking up just four hits in the loss. Sydney Schelkopf finished game with by going 2-for-3 while Macie Mays and Lauren Schneider each had a hit. But when it was 2-0, it appeared that Taylor Stuhr had her foot on the plate with the ball in hand before trying to turn a double play but the runner was called safe which allowed the inning to continue.
Kyleigh Boever went 3.0 innings giving up just three hits and just one earned run in the loss
Game two was a much closer battle as Ottawa opened up a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning but the Lady Broncos would make things interesting.
In the top of the sixth, Elana Gerhard began the inning with a one out single followed by a Lexie Mudloff single to center. Sophia Havercamp would get hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sam Skinner then picked up her first collegiate hit to center which scored two runs for her first career RBIs to make it 4-2.
The game moved into the seventh where HC would mount one more comeback attempt as Schelkopf reached first on a hit by pitch. She then moved to second on a wild pitch and then advanced to third on Mays single to second. Gerhard brought home Schelkopf with a RBI groundout to make it a one run game but Mudloff would flyout to center to end the game at 4-3.
Mays led the way at the plate going 2-for-4 while Skinner went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Havercamp pitched a complete game 6.0 innings giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out four.
Hastings is now 0-2 on the year and will be back in action Saturday Feb. 11 heading south once again but this time will take on Bethel (KS) with first pitch set for 1:00 pm in North Newton, KS.
