MISSED OPPORTUNITIES COSTLY AS DRAGONS SWEPT BY COWLEY

Destiny Schulze retired 12 batters in a row, but the Blue Dragons fell to Cowley 4-2 in eight innings on Tuesday at Fun Valley. (Joel Powers/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

April 17, 2018

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College softball team left a combined 17 runners on base Tuesday, missing on numerous scoring chances as the Cowley Tigers took advantage of their scoring chances in a Jayhawk East doubleheader sweep of the Blue Dragons at Fun Valley.

The No. 17-ranked Blue Dragons dropped the first game 6-1 and then fell 4-2 in eight innings in Game 2. The sweep combined with Highland's one loss to Fort Scott on Tuesday clinched the 2018 Jayhawk East championship for Cowley (31-12, 18-2). The Blue Dragons, who can finish no worse than fourth are 29-9 overall and complete conference play at 14-8 and 16-8 in the region.

The Blue Dragons missed on their first golden scoring opportunity in the second inning in Game 1, loading the bases with one out. Cowley pitcher Logan Wenzel got a pop-up and a flyout to the end the inning. The Dragons stranded eight runners on base in Game 1 going 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

The Dragons loaded the bases to start the second game and plated a pair of runs on a Brynne Stockman bases-loaded walk and Kameron Pope bloop single. The most painful inning for Hutch game in the sixth. With the go-ahead run at third base and two on with one out, Cowley pitcher Ashton Friend worked out of the jam. Hutchinson left nine runners on base going 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

GAME 1 RECAP
After the Blue Dragons missed on their second-inning scoring change, Cowley loaded the bases in the third with no outs and didn't miss, scoring five runs on D.J. Cannon.

Hutchinson's lone run came after Izzy Godinez tripled to lead off the third and she scored on Bekah Roberts' RBI groundout.

The Blue Dragons were out-hit 9-7. Pope went 2 for 3 with a pair of singles. The Blue Dragons had no extra-base hits.

Cannon dropped to 15-4 overall with a complete-game loss. She allowed nine hits, six runs, five earned runs with six strikeouts and one walk.

GAME 2 RECAP
Sophomore Destiny Schulze pitched a tremendous game for Hutchinson, but took the loss after giving up a pair of runs in the eighth inning. The Dragons are now 1-1 in extra-inning games this season.

Schulze gave up two runs on just three hits in regulation play. She retired 12 consecutive batters at one point. Schulze's final line showed four earned runs and six hits over eight innings with two walks and two strikeouts, but she pitched better than that. Schulze kept the Tigers in check after Cowley loaded the bases in the second and scored only one run on an RBI fielder's choice.

With one out in the eighth, Cowley's Taylah Perez tripled on the 14th pitch of the at-bat. Cowley took the lead when Heidi Nitsch tripled her home. She scored on Randi Hamilton's infield single for a 4-2 lead.

Pope went 2 for 3 to lead Hutch's six-hit attack in Game 2. Again, the Dragons had no extra-base hits.