DRAGONS RESPOND TO EARN KEY KJCCC SPLIT AT BUTLER
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
EL DORADO – After being shut out and run-ruled in Game 1 of a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader against No. 17 Butler on Monday at East Park, the Hutchinson Community College softball needed to respond to maintain its share of first place in the KJCCC.
The Blue Dragons answered the challenge as Brooke Backhaus, Bailey Backhaus and Annie Kealey drove in three runs each to lead Hutchinson to an 11-3 five-inning, run-rule victory over the Grizzlies in Game 2.
Hutchinson (21-7) and Butler (20-6) remain tied atop the Jayhawk Conference standings at 10-2. The Blue Dragons travel to Garden City on Wednesday and will play host to Barton on Saturday at Fun Valley.
GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 11, Butler 3
After falling behind 1-0 after one inning, the potent Blue Dragon bats came to life with a five-run second inning.
The Dragons started the inning with Alexis Mastin getting hit with a pitch and Korri Lies reaching on an error. Brooke Backhaus then drove a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run, the first of her collegiate career. Hutchinson completed the big inning with a Kealey two-run single that scored Tamara Lozoya and Bailey Backhaus.
The Blue Dragons kept the offense going with three more runs in the third inning. Brooke Backhaus and Lies scored on Bailey Backhaus' two-run single and an Olivia Sandoval groundout scored Lozoya.
Then in the fifth, RBI singles from Bailey Backhaus and Jaeleigh Darnell and an RBI groundout from Kealey made it 11-1 Blue Dragons.
Bailey Backhaus led the Blue Dragons' 10-hit attack by tying a career high with four hits, going 4 for 4 with three RBIs. Kealey was 1 for 4 with three runs driven in. Brooke Backhaus had the only extra-base hit, going 1 for 3 with three RBIs.
Bailey Backhaus, Lies, Brooke Backhaus and Lozoya scored two runs each.
Shadowed by the offensive uprising was the strong starting performance in the circle by Morgan Tomlinson (6-1), who threw four tough innings for the win. After giving up the first-inning run, Tomlinson limited the Grizzlies one run and three hits over the next three-plus innings.
Tomlinson blanked Butler in the second, third and fourth innings, retiring eight of the 10 batters she faced. Tomlinson had one strikeout and no walks. Dakota Lake close out the game to complete the run rule in the fifth inning.
GAME 1 RECAP – Butler 8 Hutchinson 0
The Grizzlies put the Blue Dragons in a four-run hole after one inning and rolled to the Game 1 win. Butler scored runs in each of its five offensive innings.
The Blue Dragons were out-hit 12-6 and committed four errors in the game.
Bailey Backhaus and Lozoya had two hits each to lead the Blue Dragons. Mastin and Lies had the other two hits. All six Hutchinson hits were singles.
Delaney Blakesley (6-1) suffered the loss, giving up seven hits in 3.0 innings. Only one of the six runs allowed were earned. Blakesley had one walk and one strikeout. Lies pitched 1 1-3 innings in relief. All 12 hits allowed were singles.
The Blue Dragons suffered their second shutout loss of the season.