Kappler Has Big Day as Softball Settles for Split with KWU
Salina, KS – The Hastings College softball team picked up a split against Kansas Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon winning game one 4-3 before dropping game two 5-4.
Salina, KS – The Hastings College softball team picked up a split against Kansas Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon winning game one 4-3 before dropping game two 5-4.
The Lady Broncos jumped out to a quick lead as Isabel Tanabe led the game off with a single through the hole at short. Sydney Schelkopf then laid down the sac bunt to put Tanabe in scoring position. Macy Mays picked up a walk and after Elana Gerhard grounded out, Mays and Tanabe would score on an error off the bat of Lauren Schneider to take the early 2-0 lead.
Things stayed quiet as Kyleigh Boever had to work out of a bases loaded jam in the second but no runs scored until Hastings threatened in the fourth. Taylor Stuhr coaxed a one out walk and then Sam Skinner singled to right. Kappler came up big again with a RBI single to right scoring Stuhr to make it 3-2.
Hastings held the slim one run lead into the sixth when Stuhr led the inning off with a single and moved to second on the Skinner sac bunt. Once again Kappler came up with the clutch it doubling to right center easily scoring Stuhr to make it 4-2.
That lead held into the seventh where Boever did give up a solo shot but the damage was limited as right before that home run, Hastings turned a key double play that limited the damage of the long ball. Boever then got pinch hitter Danika Utajara to strikeout ending the game.
Kappler had a great game going 3-for-3 with two RBIs in the win. Boever went a complete game 7.0 innings giving up three runs on four hits while striking out five.
In game two, Hastings was trailing 5-2 heading into the sixth and Kappler came up big at the plate blasting a two run home run to make it 5-4. But Hastings was unable to threaten again and would drop game two by one run.
Kappler again led the way at the plate going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Bailey Schmit took the loss throwing 4.0 innings giving up three runs on five hits.
Hastings is now 2-6 on the year and will be back in action Thursday Feb. 23 hitting the road to take on McPherson in a doubleheader with first pitch set for 1:00 pm in McPherson, KS.
