GOETZ, SANDOVAL POWER BLUE DRAGONS ON DAY 1 OF 2023 SEASON

High-fives for Aspen Goetz, who became the first Blue Dragon in the modern era to hit two home runs in a season opener. Goetz hit two homers in the Blue Dragons' 14-5 Game 1 win over the Ottawa JV on Friday in Ottawa. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

January 27, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

OTTAWA – Both sophomore first baseman Aspen Goetz and freshman third baseman Olivia Sandoval set the bar pretty high on Friday in the 2023 Hutchinson Community College softball team's season-opening doubleheader against the Ottawa University JV.

Goetz hit two home runs and Sandoval went 4 for 4 with five RBIs to pace the No. 17-ranked Blue Dragons to a 14-5 victory in Game 1. Eight different Blue Dragons drove in at least one run in Game 2, a 13-4 five-inning run-rule victory over the Braves.

The Blue Dragons start the season 2-0 for the third-straight season. Hutchinson, weather permitting, is scheduled to play at the McPherson College junior varsity next Friday.

Sandoval became the first Blue Dragon since Izzy Godinez in in 2018 to have a four-hit game in the season opener. Sandoval was on base in all five plate appearances with a double, three singles and a walk. Her five RBIs are the first season opener with five or more RBIs in the game since Kiara DeCrane's six RBIs in the 2018 season opener.

Goetz became the first Blue Dragon in the modern era to hit multiple home runs in a season opener. Goetz also homered in the season opener last year against Fort Scott.

Both Sandoval and Goetz led a 17-hit barrage for the Blue Dragons in Game 1. The Dragons had nine hits in Game 2.

GAME 1 RECAP
Five different Blue Dragons had multi-hit games in the season opener on Friday.

Sophomore catcher Allie Stipsits also had three hits, going 3 for 5 with two doubles and an RBI.

Sophomores Ella Dougherty and Madison Grimes had two hits each. Freshman Annie Kealey had a bases-loaded triple to camp a four-run fifth and break the game open for a 7-2 lead.

The Blue Dragons trailed 2-0 after one inning, but Sandoval's two-out single in the top of the second inning drive in two to tie the game. The Dragons took a 3-2 lead when Goetz led off the third inning with a home run to center. Goetz also homered to lead off the sixth inning.

Hutchinson left no doubt with a six-run sixth inning. Grace Sykora and Sandoval each had two-run hits in the inning.

Sophomore Kierstan Weitze came out of the bullpen to earn the pitching victory. She worked three innings with four strikeouts and three hits and one unearned run allowed. Starting pitcher Emily Munson worked the first three innings and settled in after a rough first inning. Munson struck out four and gave up three hits and two earned runs.

GAME 2 RECAP
The Dragons left little doubt in Game 2 with a seven-run first inning. The Dragons took advantage of five Brave walks. The Dragons had three hits in the inning. Ella Dougherty's two-out, two-run single plated the final two runs of the inning for a 7-0 cushion.

The Blue Dragons added a single run in the second and five more in the third inning. Alexis Mastin's RBI double and Jaeleigh Darnell's first collegiate hit was a two-run single in that third inning.

Ottawa pitching walked nine Blue Dragons. Six of those walks scored.

Dougherty went 2 for 4 with three singles, two runs and two RBIs to lead the Dragons offensively. Grimes went 1 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs.

Morgan Pennycuff battled through the first three innings to pull off the pitching victory. She allowed three hits, three walks and three runs while striking out four. Riley Wertz struck out five in two innings.