DRAGONS TOSS NO-NO, ONE-HITTER IN SWEEP OF MAVERICKS

Delaney Blakesley is one of three Blue Dragon pitchers to combine for a no-hitter on Wednesday against Northwest Tech in a KJCCC sweep. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

March 15, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GOODLAND – The No. 17-ranked Hutchinson Community College softball team twirled its second combined no-hitter of the season and followed that with a combined one-hitter as the Blue Dragons dominated in a pair of run-rule Jayhawk Conference victories over Northwest Tech on Wednesday.

Emily Munson, Kierstan Weitze and Delaney Blakesley teamed up to toss a five-inning no-hitter in Hutchinson's 16-1 victory in Game 1. Morgan Pennycuff and Korri Lies then combined for a one hitter as Hutchinson posted season highs for hits, runs and several other categories in a 22-0 victory.

The Blue Dragons extended their current winning streak to six games and improved to 21-4 overall and took sole possession of first place in the KJCCC at 9-1. The Blue Dragons will now play Garden City at 1 and 3:30 p.m. on Friday at Fun Valley in an altered schedule for the weekend. The Blue Dragons postponed a doubleheader with Hesston College for the second time this season.

The Blue Dragons now have 10 run-rule victories this season.

Hutchinson's first combined no-hitter came on February 28 when Weitze and Lies teamed up to no-hit the Sterling College JV in a 12-0 five-inning victory.

Munson, Weizte and Blakesley combined to use 65 pitches in the no-hitter against the Mavericks. Munson started and allowed an unearned run in the first inning. Weitze (5-1) struck out four in two innings. Blakesley had two strikeouts in two innings.

This is the first time the Blue Dragons have had two no-hitters since Holly Kelley in 2016.

The only hit allowed in Game 2 was a two-out single in the first inning allowed by Pennycuff. She then retired the final seven batters she faced in the first three innings. Pennycuff (8-1) struck out five in three innings in earning her team-high eighth victory. Lies retired all six Tech batters she faced with three strikeouts.

The Blue Dragon pitching staff now have nine games of two hits or less, five of one hit or less and two no-hitters this season.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Blue Dragons started out the day hot with a nine-run first inning in Game 1. They added a seven-run fifth inning. The Blue Dragons had 14 total hits, including six doubles and a home run.

The Dragons sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning. Aspen Goetz started the inning with a three-run double. Grace Sykora hit a two-run home run. Olivia Sandoval had an RBI double and Madison Grimes had a two-run double in the first inning.

Jaeleigh Darnell and Sykora had RBI doubles in the seventh inning and Ella Dougherty had a two-run double in the seven-run fifth.

Sandoval and Goetz had three hits each to lead the Blue Dragons.

Sandoval went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Goetz was 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Dougherty was 2 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs with a double. Sykora went 2 for 2 with two runs and three RBIs, including her first home run of the season.

Eight different Blue Dragons had at least one RBI and eight Dragon players had at least one hit.

The combined no hitter was kept intact with Darnell setting a single-game record for outfield assists by turning potential base hits into three 9-3 putouts at first base.

GAME 2 RECAP
The Blue Dragons set season highs for runs (22), hits (18), RBIs (17), doubles (7) and total bases (30) in Game 2.

The 22 runs scored tied for the eighth-most runs scored in single-game Blue Dragon history. The seven doubles tied for the third most double in a game. It was the seventh time in team history with seven doubles in a game.

The Blue Dragons scored six runs in the first inning, two in the second, nine in the fourth and fifth in the fifth. The Dragons also took advantage of nine Northwest Tech errors.

Goetz was a perfect 5 for 5 to lead the Blue Dragons. The sophomore first baseman had four singles and her fifth home run of the season. Goetz had a career-high five RBIs.

Grimes tied career highs with four hits and five runs scored. Grimes had two doubles and a triple and drove in three runs.

Blakesley had a season -high three hits with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.

Tamara Lozoya was 2 for 2 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Sandoval was 1 for 4 with a double, three runs scored and three RBIs.