Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GAINESVILLE, Texas – After a frustrating Game 1 loss to North Central Texas, the Hutchinson Community College softball team's bats finally started to deliver to the final game of the four-game Oklahoma-Texas road trip to earn a doubleheader split on Friday at North Central Texas.
After dropping the first game 5-0, the No. 17-ranked Blue Dragons made a four-run second inning in Game 2 stand up as Hutchinson defeated North Central Texas 5-3.
The Blue Dragons are now 7-3 heading into next Thursday's home and Jayhawk Conference opener with Colby at Fun Valley.
Sophomore third baseman Olivia Sandoval had hits in each game on Friday to extend her consecutive-game hitting streak to 26 games. Sandoval led off the fourth inning of Game 1 with a double to extend the streak to 25 games. She had an RBI single in the second inning of Game 2 to push the second-longest hitting streak to 26 games in Game 2.
GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 5, NCTC 3
Sandoval and Bailey Backhaus combined for three RBIs and the Blue Dragons took advantage of six North Central errors to earn the Game 2 victory.
Bailey Backhaus was 2 for 5 with an RBI and run scored. Sandoval was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Tamara Lozoya went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored to pace Hutchinson's six-hit attack.
The Blue Dragons loaded the bases with no outs to start the second inning. Bailey Backhaus slapped an RBI single for a 1-0 Blue Dragon lead. Sandoval's two-run single plated Preslee Irwin and Lozoya for a 3-0 lead. Bailey Backhaus scored on an error committed off the back of Annie Kealey.
Leading 4-3 entering the seventh, the Dragons got a needed insurance run when Lozoya scored on NCTC's sixth error of the game for a two-run lead.
Korri Lies (2-0) worked the first 4 1-3 innings in the circle to earn the pitching victory for the Blue Dragons. Lies allowed just one hit and two unearned runs with three walks and a season-high five strikeouts. Dakota Lake earned her third save with 2 2-3 innings of work. Lake struck out four with three hits and one earned run allowed.
Lake had a huge strikeout in the bottom of the sixth to end the inning with the potential game-tying run at third base.
GAME 1 RECAP –NCTC 5, Hutchinson 0
The Blue Dragons had a frustrating game getting out-hit 11-4. The Blue Dragons lined out eight times in the game and hit into two double plays.
Bailey Backhaus, Sandoval, Jaeleigh Darnell and Lies had the only Blue Dragons hits in the first game. Sandoval's double was the only extra-base hit. The Blue Dragons did not have a single strikeout in the opening game.
Morgan Tomlinson (1-1) suffered the loss in the pitching circle for Hutchinson. She allowed seven hits and three earned run in three innings with one strikeout and two walks. Delaney Blakesley gave up four hits and two runs with a pair of strikeouts in three innings pitched.