BASS HITS 3 HOMERS AS DRAGONS ROLL BY BETHANY

Raven Bass and third-base coach Ben Whitsitt celebrate one of Bass' three home runs in Game 1 of a doubleheader sweep of the Bethany JV on Tuesday at Fun Valley. (Allie Schweizer/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Raven Bass and third-base coach Ben Whitsitt celebrate one of Bass' three home runs in Game 1 of a doubleheader sweep of the Bethany JV on Tuesday at Fun Valley. (Allie Schweizer/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Sophomore Raven Bass became the fourth Blue Dragon to hit three home runs in one game as the No. 15 Hutchinson Community College softball team closed out the regular season with several memorable performances on Sophomore Day on Tuesday against the Bethany College JV.

Bass' three home runs were part of a program single-game record seven home runs in a 21-0 five-inning victory in Game 1. Natalie Semmel had two home runs, including a grand slam, in Hutchinson's 14-0 five-inning victory in the second game.

The Blue Dragons close the 2018 regular season 33-9. Hutchinson will play host to Hesston College in a best-of-3 Region VI District E opening-round series on Saturday and Sunday at Fun Valley.

Bass joined Sarah Rothe, who did it twice, and Makenzi Shackley as the only Blue Dragon players to hit three home runs in a game. Her 12 total bases tied for second most in Hutch single-game history. Bass finished 3 for 3 with four RBIs and four runs scored.

Bass was one of seven Blue Dragon sophomores to have memorable sophomore days.

Kameron Pope went 3 for 5 with two home runs and a double in the first game. The three hits and five RBIs tied career highs. In the second game, Pope reached the 100 career-high milestone and also had her first two career triples in going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

Ashton Reynolds also reached the 100 career-hit mark with a career-high four hits and career-high six RBIs in the first game. Reynolds had two singles, a two-run double and a grand slam. She was 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the second game.

With three stolen bases in Tuesday's doubleheader, Bekah Roberts now has 26 stolen bases for the season. Already the single-season stolen base leader, Roberts is now No. 2 on the career stolen base list.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Blue Dragons scored their first nine runs of the game all with two outs. Hutchinson was 12 for 16 with 13 RBIs in two-out situations.

Pope hit a solo home run and Brynne Stockman had a two-run homer with two outs in the first inning to build a 3-0 lead. Eight-straight Blue Dragons reached after two outs in a six-run second inning.

After Pope's three-run home run in the third, the Blue Dragons hit-back-to back home runs to break the single-game record for homers. The only record was five home runs set against Coffeyville two years ago at Fun Valley.

Leading 13-0, Reynolds hit a grand slam to cap an eight-run third inning.

In addition to the huge games by Bass, Pope and Reynolds, eight different Blue Dragons had multi-hit games as Hutch out-hit Bethany 23-2.

Bre Johnson went 3 for 5 with a double and triple with two RBIs and two runs scored. Stockman finished 3 for 3 with a two-run homer, three runs scored and two RBIs. Roberts, Semmel and D.J. Cannon had two hits each. Cannon had a double.

Cannon (17-4) took a no-hitter one out into the fourth inning. She allowed two hits and walked two while strikeout out seven. Cannon now has 35 career victories.

GAME 2 RECAP
The Blue Dragons added three more home runs and eight total extra-base hits in the second game led by Semmel's two home-run game with a career-high five RBIs.

Johnson hit a two-run home run in the first inning. The Dragons added four two-out RBIs in a four-run third inning. Semmel's grand slam was part of an eight-run fourth inning.

Pope led Hutchinson's 13-hit attack with three hits, including her first two career triples. Semmel was 2 for 2 with two homers and five RBIs.

Roberts, Kiara DeCrane and Shelby Felvus had two hits each.

Destiny Schulze 12-5) tossed a two-hit shutout with no walks and four strikeouts. She retired the final eight Bethany batters she faced in the game.