DRAGONS RALLY TWICE TO SWEEP DODGE CITY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Friday was a day of comebacks for the Hutchinson Community College softball team at Fun Valley.

Trailing by deficits of two and one run early in Game 1 against Dodge City, the Blue Dragons scored nine unanswered runs for an 11-3 mercy-rule victory in six innings.

Hutchinson then saved its best comeback for last.

Trailing by three runs twice, the Blue Dragons forced extra innings with a two-out RBI single from Caitlin Schumacher and then won it in the ninth as pinch-runner Shelby Felvus scored on a shallow sacrifice fly to left-center for a 7-6 victory over the Conquistadors.

The Blue Dragons improve to 12-14 overall and are now 7-9 in the Jayhawk East. Dodge City is now 13-13 overall and 7-11 in the Jayhawk West. The Blue Dragons travel to Liberal on Sunday for a Jayhawk doubleheader with Seward County at 2 and 4 p.m.

GAME 2 RECAP
The ninth inning had as much drama as most full games.

Tied at 6-all, Dodge City mounted a major threat in the top of the inning as the Conquistadors loaded the bases with one out. Pitcher Maryssa Rollin, who entered the game in the third for starter Megan Davis, coaxed a fly ball out to Brynne Stockman in shallow left and then struck Alex Pacheco out looking to end the inning. Dodge City stranded 10 runners in the game.

Beanie Luttig, who had six hits in the doubleheader, led off the bottom of the ninth with a sharp single to left field and was pinch run for by Felvus. Ashley Wilson followed with a single and Stockman's sacrifice bunt became a Dodge throwing error and the Dragons had the bases loaded with no outs.

A.J. Briones followed and, on a 1-0 pitch, popped up a ball to short left-center. Dodge shortstop Courtney Huff caught the ball over her shoulder barely into the outfield grass. With Huff's momentum going away from home plate, Felvus tagged from third to score the winning run.

Hutchinson trailed 3-0 after a half inning and it took a while for the Blue Dragon offense to get going against Conquistador starter Samantha Montano. Finally in the fourth, the Dragons broke through with an RBI fielder's choice by Briones and a two-out, two-run single by Rollin to knot the score at 3-all.

Dodge City immediately struck back with three runs in the top of the fifth. Back came Hutch in the sixth and seventh. Rollin smacked another two-run single in the sixth to pull Hutch within 6-5.

Down to their final out in the seventh, Stockman singled and Briones drew a walk before Schumacher dumped an RBI single into center to score Stockman with the tying run.

Rollin (3-1) pitched a season-long seven innings, throwing 120 pitches, to earn the victory. Rollin struck out six and gave up seven hits, three earned runs and three walks.

The Blue Dragons hammered out 16 hits in Game 2

Rollin had a huge game going 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Her three this and four RBIs were season highs.

Luttig, Wilson and Stockman all had three hits each. Briones was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Schumacher was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a double.

GAME 1 RECAP
After the Blue Dragons fell behind 2-0 after a half inning, Luttig smashed a two-run double of the base of the left-field wall to tie the game at 2-all after an inning.

Then down 3-2, the Blue Dragon answered back with nine unanswered runs to finish the game in the sixth inning.

The Blue Dragons out-hit Dodge City 15-10. Alexis Way went a season-high 4 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Way's fourth single of the game, coming in the bottom of the sixth, plated Briones with the game-ending run.

Luttig went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and drove in three runs. Schumacher had two hits and a run scored. Taylor Ullery was 2 for 4 with three runs scored.

Bailey Brawner (1-1) earned her first pitching victory as a Blue Dragon. Working four-plus innings, Brawner allowed nine hits, three earned runs and three walks while striking out one. Her final two innings were scoreless.

Rollin entered the game in the fourth with a pair of Conquistadors on base and no out. Rollin retired 6 of the 7 Dodge City batters she faced and had three strikeouts.