HEART OF ORDER CARRIES DRAGONS TO SWEEP OF LARKS

Natalie Bevan had three doubles and drove in four runs to pace the Blue Dragon softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Hesston College on Tuesday at Fun Valley. (Garrett Riehs/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

March 9, 2021

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The heart of the Hutchinson Community College softball order has been potent all season long and Tuesday was no different against the Hesston College Larks.

Hutchinson's No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters – Haley Miller, Madison Grimes and Natalie Bevan – combined for 11 hits, 15 runs batted in and seven runs scored in the Blue Dragons' doubleheader sweep of the Larks at Fun Valley.

That trio was aided by a solid combined pitching performance by Muquela Gajardo and Samarah Bailey in a 5-2 victory in Game 1. The heart of the Dragon order was joined in an offensive onslaught by Carley Sternecker and Alexis Way, who had career highs for highs and RBIs, respectively in a 17-9 run-run of Hesston Game 1.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Blue Dragons trailed 1-0 after four innings as Hutchinson stranded five runners on base, four in scoring position, in their first four at-bats.

The big hit finally came in the fifth after a Lark error off the bat of Grimes plated Way with the tying run. Bevan laced a double to center to score two more and came around to complete a four-run inning on an Easton Head single. The Dragons tacked on an insurance run on a Miller sacrifice fly in the sixth for a 5-2 lead.

Guajardo and Bailey made that stand up in the pitching circle. Guajardo (2-2) pitched a season-high five innings. She allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking none. Guajardo's three strikeouts tied a season high. Bailey earned her second save of the season with the final two innings. She also struck out three.

The Blue Dragons had seven total hits by seven different players. Bevan's double was the only extra base hit for Hutchinson. Bevan also had the only multi-RBI game. Miller, Grimes and Head all had RBIs.

Hutchinson was also 9 for 9 in stolen base attempts. Way had three steals Grimes and Lexi Williams had two each and Miller had one steal.

GAME 2 RECAP
The Blue Dragons exploded for 17 hits in Game 2 and scored at least one run each of their five at-bats in the game. That included six-run innings in each of the second and fourth.

Sternecker went a career-best 4 for 4 with two doubles four runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Blue Dragons. Way also drove in a career-high four runs, going 2 for 4.

As for the Dragons' No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters?

Miller had a career-high five RBIs and scored one, going 2 for 3 in Game 2. Grimes was 3 for 4 with a double, triple and four RBIs. Bevan had two doubles in going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.

The Blue Dragons led 15-3 entering the fifth inning and the pitching staff had its only reach hiccup of the day after the Larks scored six runs in the top of the fifth to extend the game.

Jordan Galliher earned the win in the pitching circle. She went 4-plus innings with four strikeouts, but she allowed five hits, including two home runs and six total runs. Bailey entered and worked just 1-3 inning with three runs allowed before Guajardo pitched the final 2-3 of an inning.

The Blue Dragons are now scheduled to open Jayhawk Conference play on Thursday with a home doubleheader against the Barton Cougars at 2 p.m. at Fun Valley.