HCC Sports Information
Saturday, May 8, 2016
TOPEKA - The No. 8-ranked Hutchinson Community College softball team's dream season came to a stunning end on Saturday at the Region VI-District E Tournament at Hummer Park in Topeka.
The Blue Dragons looked to be in position to advance in the tournament opener against Cowley College, but the Tigers rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to upset HCC 8-7. The Blue Dragons were then eliminated by Independence 6-1 later in the day.
HCC's magical 2016 season closes at 38-8, the fewest losses in program history. Hutchinson saw numerous team and individual records fall this season, had its first top-two conference finish since 1992 and first national ranking since 1987. The 38 wins tied for the third most in program history.
GAME 1 RECAP - Cowley
HCC trailed Cowleh 2-1 in the sixth inning when the Blue Dragons took charge. Holly Kelley delivered a two-out RBI single to score Ally Raines in the bottom of the sixth. Tori Caruthers then hit a two-run single to give HCC a 4-2 lead. Lexi Eisenbart had another two-out, two-run single and HCC scored a sixth two-out run on a Cowley error and HCC led 7-2 heading to the seventh.
With two outs and a runner at second, things suddenly turned in a bad way for the Blue Dragons. Cowley had six-straight two-out doubles that plated six runs to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead.
Hannah Danielson singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and was sacrifices to second. But the Blue Dragons couldn't complete the comeback. The Blue Dragons stranded 12 runners on base against Cowley.
Danielson went 4 for 5 to lead HCC's 12-hit attack against Cowley. Eisenbart was 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Caruthers was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
Cowley's Jolona Shield did damage at the plate and in the circle. At the plate, Shield was 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs. In the circle, she tossed a complete game with four strikeouts, but made huge pitches to keep HCC from getting the big hit.
Kelley (26-5) was the losing pitcher. She went 6 2-3 innings and allowed season highs of 12 hits and eight runs. She struck out four and had four walks,
GAME 2 RECAP - Independence
The Pirates jumped on a shaken Blue Dragon team with two early runs and Independence made the lead stand up in the District E elimination game.
HCC's lone run came in the bottom of the first inning when Kendall Blanco stole second base and scored on Kelcee Thompson's two-out double. That steal gave Blanco sole possession of the Hutchinson single-season stolen base record with her 20th steal of the season. She was tied with Kristen Dickerson (2004) for the single-season steals record.
The Blue Dragons were unable to generate any more offense as Independence took charge with a three-run fourth inning and added another in the seventh inning.
The Dragons were limited to five hits by two Independence pitchers. Thompson's first-inning double was HCC's only extra base hit. Caruthers, Sami Loos, Raines and Nicole Pendleton had the other hits.
Caruthers (5-1) was charged with her first pitching loss of the season. She worked three-plus innings and allowed four hits and two runs. Kelley finished up over the final four innings. She struck out four and finished the season with a school-record 262 strikeouts.