WERTZ, PENNYCUFF DAZZLE IN SWEEP OF COUGARS
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND – Riley Wertz had a huge day at the plate and ties a Jayhawk Conference record while Morgan Pennycuff tossed her second-straight complete game as the No. 18-ranked Hutchinson Community College softball team earned a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader sweep of Barton on Saturday at Cougar Field.
The Blue Dragons defeated Barton 8-4 and 7-1 on Saturday sweep the Cougars. The Dragons remained tied for first in the Jayhawk Conference with a 7-1 record and improve to 19-4 overall. The Blue Dragons travel to Northwest Tech on Wednesday. Barton, 11-10 overall, dropped their first league games of the season and dropped to 6-2.
With her two-inning save in Game 1, Wertz tied the Jayhawk Conference record for career saves with 13. That matches Cowley's Randi Hamilton, who had 13 saves in the 2017 season. The save on Saturday was Wertz's fourth of the season.
Offensively, Wertz had a huge day, going a combined 6 for 8 with a double, home run and six RBIs to lead the Blue Dragons. Wertz had three hits in each game.
Pennycuff earned her seventh pitching victory of the season with her first career seven-inning complete game. Pennycuff tossed a five-inning complete game on Wednesday against Colby.
Pennycuff allowed just two hits and only one run, a solo home run in the sixth inning to the Cougars. Pennycuff struck out six and retired 12 consecutive batters from the second through sixth innings. She retired the final five batters she faced to close out the game.
Pennycuff now has a team-high two complete games this season.
GAME 1 RECAP
Led by Wertz, the bottom third of the Blue Dragon order provided plenty of offense. Jaeleigh Darnell, Wertz and Korri Lies combined for 7 of 10 hitting with three double, five runs scored and three RBIs in the Game 1 victory.
Wertz started the second in the second when she singled home Darnell. Wertz then scored on Ella Dougherty's two-run home run for a 3-0 lead.
Barton scored two runs in the bottom of third, but the Blue Dragons answered right back with two runs in the fourth when Lies doubled in a run and scored on an Olivia Sandoval groundout.
Hutchinson's lead was cut to 5-4 on a Calli McConnell two-run home run with one out in the fifth. The Dragons wasted no time rebuilding a cushion. Olivia Sandoval singled home Korri Lies in the sixth. Wertz then doubled home pinch runner Tamara Lozoya and later scored on a Dougherty sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh for an 8-4 lead.
Wertz went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs to lead Hutchinson's 14-hit attack.
Sandoval was 3 for 5 with three singles and two RBIs. Darnell and Lies had two hits each. Dougherty had one hit, but drove in three runs.
Sophomore Kierstan Weitze (4-1) came out of the bullpen to earn the pitching victory. She worked 2 2-3 innings and allowed two hits, two runs, one earned run and struck out two.
Wertz entered the game in the sixth, striking out the side in the sixth. Barton loaded the bases against Wertz in the seventh, but Wertz got a groundout to end the game.
GAME 2 RECAP
Wertz continued her hot play at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a career-high-tying four RBIs.
Wertz had an RBI single in Hutchinson's two-run second inning. She singled home Aspen Goetz to make it 4-0 in the third and then hit a two-run home run in the fifth to give the Dragons a 7-0 lead.
Alexis Mastin also homered, hitting a leadoff homer to start the fifth. Allie Stipsits and Goetz both doubled.
Pennycuff struck out six and walked none in seven innings. Over the week, Pennycuff was 2-0 with two complete games. Over 12 innings, Pennycuff had 13 strikeout, three hits allowed and two runs.