DRAGON OFFENSE ROLLS AGAIN IN SWEEP OF JETS
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Playing for the first time in 18 days, there was no rust on the bats of the Hutchinson Community College softball team Tuesday at Fun Valley.
The Blue Dragons combined for 29 runs and 26 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Northern Oklahoma College-Enid. Hutchinson won the first game 15-1 and the second game 14-0. Both games were five-inning rule-rule games.
Over its first four games, Hutchinson has scored 59 runs while allowing only one.
Hutchinson's No. 1, 3 and 4 hitters Lexi Williams, Madison Grimes and Natalie Bevan all had huge performances. Grimes was a combined 5 for 5 with five runs and six RBIs. Bevan drove in seven runs while going 5 for 7. Williams was 4 for 6 with five runs and five RBIs.
The Dragons had eight extra base hits in the sweep of the Jets including a Jaedyn Miller home run.
Hutchinson surrendered its first run and also faced its first deficit of the season. NOC-Enid scored a single run off Game 1 starter Samarah Bailey in the first inning. Bailey and Jordan Galliher then locked down the Jets over the next four innings, allowing just four hits over the final four innings.
Freshman Miguela Guajardo and Galliher combined for a one-hit shutout in Game 2. Guajardo gave up a leadoff single in the second, but erased that baserunner two batters later with an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
The victories were career wins 498 and 499 for Blue Dragon head coach Jaime Rose. That win total includes 17 seasons at Hutchinson and two at Independence.
GAME 1 RECAP
Hutch's first deficit of the season didn't last long. Kylee Dunn singled home Grimes to tie the game and Hutchinson immediately claimed the lead on an Easton Head single that plated Bevan for a 2-1 lead.
The Blue Dragons then scored two runs in the second, five in the third and six in the fourth inning.
Williams set the table by going 3 for 4 with three runs and four RBIs. She also had her career 31st stolen base.
Grimes went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Bevan went 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Carley Sternecker had a double and Alexis Way tripled for Hutch's only extra base hits.
Bailey (1-0) earned the victory with four innings in the pitching circle. She allowed one earned run and six hits with only one strikeout and one way. Galliher struck out two in a scoreless fifth inning to close the game out.
The Blue Dragons also stole five bases, three from Grimes.
Hutchinson out-hit NOC-Enid 12-6.
GAME 2 RECAP
Guajardo was the headliner in the second game with four shutout innings to earn her first collegiate victory. She allowed a one-out walk in the first and gave up her only hit to lead off the second. Guajardo retired the final eight batters she faced.
Using only 36 pitches in her four innings. Guajardo had one strikeout and one walk allowed.
After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Dragon bats opened up against the Jets with five in the second, four in the third and five in the fourth.
The Blue Dragons pounded out 14 hits, six for extra bases. Hutchinson was also 7 for 7 in stolen bases. Williams and Grimes stole two bases each. Bevan, Bailey Pennycuff and Haley Miller also had stolen bases.
Bevan and Dunn had three hits each to lead the Blue Dragons. Each had a double. Bevan drove in a career-high four runs.
Grimes was on base in each of her four plate appearances. She went 2 for 2 with three runs, three RBIs and a triple.
The Blue Dragons are scheduled to travel to Texas and Oklahoma this weekend to play North Central Texas in Gainesville, Texas on Friday and Murray State on Saturday.