RECORDS, MILESTONES, PERFECT GAME HIGHLIGHT DRAGON SWEEP

In a day full of offensive superlatives, Blue Dragon shortstop Madison Grimes jumps high to snag a line drive and protect a combined perfect game in the No. 15 Blue Dragons' 30-0 win over Northwest Tech on Wednesday at Fun Valley. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

April 19, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

A team scoring record, a combined perfect game and a milestone victory for head coach Jaime Rose highlighted the No. 15-ranked Hutchinson Community College softball team's dominant KJCCC doubleheader sweep of the Northwest Tech Mavericks on Wednesday at Fun Valley.

The Blue Dragons finally got their offense going in Game 1 with a seven-run fourth inning as Hutchinson run-ruled Northwest Tech 9-0 in five innings. The Blue Dragons then set a single-game scoring record and tied a single-game record for total hits as Hutchinson rolled to a 30-0 victory over the Mavericks in Game 2.

The Game 2 victory was the milestone 600th coaching victory for Rose in her 21-year coaching career. She has 562 of those wins in the Blue Dragon dugout. The first 38 wins came at Independence in 2003 and 2004.

The Blue Dragons maintained their hold on first place in the Jayhawk Conference and improved to 35-6 overall and 23-3 in the league. The Dragons travel to Garden City on Saturday. Northwest Tech fell to 0-28 overall and 0-22 in the league.

The Blue Dragons broke a single-game scoring record with 30 runs scored in Game 2. That broke the 2018 record of 28 runs scored against the Bethel College JV and was matched earlier this season with 28 runs against Seward County. The 30 total base hits tied the 2014 record set against Brown Mackie College. The Dragons also set a single-game record with 30 runs batted in.

Other notables from Wednesday's doubleheader victory over the Mavericks.

+ The Blue Dragons posted their 20th and 21st run-rule victories of the season.

+ Now with 35 wins for the season, the 2013 Blue Dragons tie the 1986 team for the ninth-most wins in a season.

+ With a three-run home run in Game 2, Aspen Goetz became just the fourth Blue Dragon player with 20 career home runs. Goetz tied Holly Kelley for third place on the Blue Dragon career home run list.

+ With 13 home runs for the season, Goetz tied Kelley for fifth on the single-season home run list.

+ With 66 RBIs this season, including six combined in Wednesday's doubleheader, Goetz is now second on the Dragon single-season RBI list.

+ Riley Wertz's career-high eight RBIs in Game 2 is the second most RBIs in single-game history.

+ Wertz also moved into fifth place on the Blue Dragon career strikeout list with 235.

+ The Game 2 combined perfect game between Morgan Pennycuff, Kierstan Weitze, Korri Lies and Wertz was the third no-hitter by the Blue Dragons this season. This is the first time since 1987 the Dragons have had three no-hitters in the same season. The 1987 Blue Dragons had four no-hitters.

+ The perfect game was the first authored by the Blue Dragons since Jordan Galliher's perfecto on February 9, 2020 against Allen.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Blue Dragons took a while to get the offense going in Game 1.

Hutchinson took a 2-0 lead after one inning when Olivia Sandoval doubled home Ella Dougherty and scored on Goetz's infield single.

The Dragons then had eight consecutive batters retired into the fourth inning. With one out in the fourth, Goetz walked and Alexis Mastin hit a two-run home run to spark a seven-run fourth inning. Lies then singled in a run, Dougherty had a sacrifice fly and Madison Grimes hit a three-run double to give the Blue Dragons a 9-1 lead.

The Blue Dragons had eight total hits from eight different players. Doubles by Sandoval and Grimes and Mastin's home run were the only extra-base hits. Grimes had three RBIs and Mastin drove in two to lead the Dragon offense.

Four Blue Dragon pitchers combined on a one-hitter, the ninth time this season the Dragons gave up one hit or less.

Emily Munson struck out the side in one inning of work, Weitze (7-1) had one strikeout in a perfect second inning. Delaney Blakeslee gave up one run and one hit and struck out four. Wertz pitched a scoreless fifth with three strikeouts.

GAME 2 RECAP
Hutchinson's offensive onslaught continued in the second game with five runs in the first, seven runs in the second, 10 in the third – the fourth inning of 10 runs or more scored in an inning this season – and eight in the fourth. The Blue Dragons batted around in each of their fourth offensive innings.

Wertz led the Blue Dragons' record offensive output with career highs of four hits and eight RBIs. Wertz was 4 for 5 with a double and grand slam home run. Wertz also had a two-run single in the second, two-run single in the third and a grand slam came in the fourth. Wertz also scored four runs.

Dougherty and Goetz also had four hits each. Dougherty was 4 for 5 with a double, stolen base, home run, four runs scored and three RBIs. Goetz was 4 for 5 with a three-run home run, four runs scored and five RBIs, her fourth game this season with five or more RBIs.

Tamara Lozoya had career highs with three hits and four RBIs. Lozoya was 3 for 3 with a two-run triple, two-run double.

Preslee Irwin was 3 for 4 with four runs scored. Lies went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Sandoval was 3 for 5 with an RBI double and four total RBIs and two runs scored.

Grace Sykora hit a home run and went 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs. Allie Stipsits also had two hits.

Pennycuff had one strikeout in one inning. Weitze (8-1) earned the win with one spotless inning. Lies struck out three in two innings and Wertz fanned two in one inning.