PITCHERS CARRY DRAGONS TO 10-INNING WIN OVER MURRAY STATE
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
TISHOMINGO, Oklahoma – Pitchers Emily Munson and Riley Wertz worked nine-consecutive scoreless innings to lead the Hutchinson Community College softball team to a 4-2 victory in 10 innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday at Murray State College.
Murray State's offense came to life in one inning in Game 2 and then the Aggies had to hold off the Blue Dragons in a 5-4 win over the Blue Dragons to split the doubleheader.
Now 5-3, the Blue Dragons play a doubleheader against North Central Texas at Noon on Sunday in Gainesville, Texas.
GAME 1 RECAP
Murray State scored two runs in the first inning and then the Blue Dragon pitching staff kicked into high gear.
After allowing two runs in that first inning, Munson retired 10 of the next 12 batters she faced. Munson stranded two runners in scoring position in the first and stranded a runner at third in the second. Munson induced a double play in the third. Munson allowed just one hit from the second through fifth innings.
Munson got the first out of the sixth before giving up a double and single to the Aggies. Wertz entered the pitching circle at that point and slammed the door on the Aggies with a pair of strikeouts. Wertz allowed a hit in the fifth and a leadoff walk in the ninth. Wertz then closed the game out in style by striking out the side in the 10th inning.
Munson received a no decision after a season-long 5 1-3 innings of work. She allowed six hits and two earned runs, but walked none.
Wertz struck out a season-high 11 in 4 2-3 shutout innings. She walked one and allowed just two hits.
Ella Dougherty led the Blue Dragons going 3 for 5. Natalie Bevan was 2 for 5. The Blue Dragons had nine total hits, none were for extra bases.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, the Blue Dragons immediately tied the game in the top of the second. Aspen Goetz singled to score Easton Swanson. Two batters later, Goetz scored on a Dougherty RBI single.
The Dragons loaded the bases in the fourth and didn't get another hit until Bevan singled in the eight.
Hutchinson finally broke through in the 10th. Haley Miller singled to center and advanced to second when Madison Grimes walked. Bevan then laced the first pitch to her to center field to score Miller for a 3-2 lead. The Dragons added an insurance run when Bevan scored on Carley Sterneker's RBI single.
GAME 2 RECAP
The Blue Dragons extended their consecutive scoreless inning streak to 12 innings, but Murray State finally broke through for five runs in the fourth and the Aggies had just enough to earn the doubleheader split.
The Dragons took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Allie Stipsits laced a two-run single through the left side of the infield to score Bevan and Sternecker.
Blue Dragon starter Sadie Loney retired the first nine Aggies she faced, but gave up a single and two-run homer in the fourth as Murray State tied the game at 2-all. The Aggies tacked one three for runs off Loney to take a 5-2 lead.
Hutchinson tried to rally in the seventh. Bevan hit a two-run double to score Dougherty and Miller to make it 5-4, but the Dragons ended the game on a pop up and line drive to short.
The Blue Dragons out-hit Murray State 12-6 in the second game.
Sternecker was 3 for 4 with a double and Stipsits was 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Bevan and Miller had two hits each.
Loney pitched 3 1-3 innings and allowed three hits and five earned runs with two strikeouts. Morgan Pennycuff struck out three and allowed three hits in 2 2-3 scoreless relieve innings.