NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – On Friday afternoon, the Southwestern College softball team went on the road to play against the Threshers of Bethel College for the second time within two days, as they had to postpone the second game of the doubleheader on Wednesday due to inclement weather. Nevertheless, the Builders traveled back and took care of business, as they won game two by the same 8-7 final as the first tilt, clinching the sweep.

The Builders started the game by making a statement, as four runs were scored on the Builder side. Loren Wright singled up the middle to earn her first RBI of the game, giving Rayven Favors the ability to score the first run for the Builders. Southwestern continued to reach base, and had the bases loaded, when Zoe Berger hit a triple down the right-field line which resulted in three RBI. Alexus Johnson, L. Wright, and Hanna Hlavenka all scored, improving the lead to 4-0 for the Moundbuilders.  

A scoreless second inning for the Builders left room for the Threshers to start a comeback. Before the Builders could blink, three runs were scored by Bethel. An RBI single to center field and a two-RBI hit to right field resulted in three runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Both teams kept battling, but neither side could find the scoreboard in the third inning. It was the Threshers who were able to score another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, as a single though the left side resulted in a run to tie the game, 4-4. In addition, a tally was scored in the bottom of the fifth inning by Bethel to put them ahead by a one-run margin, 5-4.

Under pressure to counter Bethel, the Builders started the sixth inning nicely. A sacrifice bunt by Kelsey Daniel allowed Taylor Mesna to advance from second base to third. The throw by Bethel's second baseman to third base resulted in an error, affording Mesna a free ride home to score the fifth run for Southwestern.

Going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the game was tied at five, which left the door wide open for both teams to go ahead in the race to the finish. The Threshers saw their chance and took it, as they scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go up by two. A two-run homer to left field did the damage for Bethel in the sixth.

Down by two runs in the top of the seventh inning, the Builders knew what to do. The run production in the frame started with Natalie Davis, as she doubled to right center to help Al. Johnson and L. Wright score two runs for the Builders. After tying the game, SC was still hungry for the win, as Mesna singled up the middle to earn her first RBI of the game. The knock sent home Davis to take back the lead for the Builders.

Ultimately, the Threshers were held at bay in the bottom of the seventh, as the Builders snagged their first back-to-back wins of the 2023 season, as well as their first conference sweep of the year. It also marks their fourth win of the season by just a one-run margin.

As one of two Moundbuilders with two hits in the game, Berger (2-for-4, 3B, 3 RBI) had a huge three-run triple in the first inning of the battle with two outs. L. Wright (2-for-4, RBI, 2 R) also had a pair of knocks in the victory. Five other players tallied hits in the triumphant effort, including Isabel Lytle (1-for-4), Favors (1-for-4, 2B, R), Hlavenka (1-for-3, R), Davis (1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R) and Mesna (1-for-3, RBI, R).

Al. Johnson managed to pitch 4.1 innings in this battle, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in that span. Luckily, Jordan Gates continued to show her value in relief, as she came on to get the win for SC with 2.2 innings of two-run ball. She allowed only two hits during her period of work. Both of the hurlers tallied one strikeout and zero walks.

Following their first two-game sweep of the season, the Builders (5-32, 3-17 KCAC) return to the diamond with two bouts against the McPherson College Bulldogs on Saturday, April 22 at Broadway Sports Complex. The matchups will serve as the squad's Senior Day, as three current seniors will be honored between the two games. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.

--buildersports.com--