OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Southwestern College swept Kansas Christian College in a softball doubleheader Thursday on the road, combining offensive firepower and pitching dominance to improve to 9-21 on the season.
Game 1: Southwestern 9, Kansas Christian 0 (5 innings)
The Moundbuilders erupted for nine runs over the first four innings and shut out the Falcons, 9-0, in a five-inning run-rule victory. Junior shortstop Taylor Mesna led the charge at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Junior designated player Tiara Henry added two hits and an RBI, while junior outfielder Lainey Hardman delivered an RBI double to ignite a four-run second inning.
Sophomore pitcher Faith Campbell was in command throughout, tossing a complete-game five-hit shutout. She struck out five, walked two, and stranded eight runners to earn her first complete game of the season.
Southwestern capitalized on five Kansas Christian's errors, scoring six unearned runs. The Moundbuilders tallied eight hits overall, including multi-hit efforts from Mesna and Henry. Defensively, Southwestern was flawless in the field.
Game 2: Southwestern 2, Kansas Christian 0
In Game 2, the tone shifted to a pitchers' duel, but Southwestern manufactured enough offense to pull out a 2-0 victory behind a combined six-hit shutout from sophomore Ella Willesden and Campbell. Willesden (1-2) worked six innings, allowing six hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Campbell returned in the seventh to notch her first save of the season.
Southwestern broke through in the third inning when Hardman led off with a double and scored on a fielder's choice by freshman infielder Jaidyn Soldin. In the sixth, an error and passed ball set up an insurance run on a sacrifice fly from Senior catcher Kalli Viegra, scoring senior first baseman Nina Celestino.
Hardman finished the day with three hits, two runs, and an RBI across both games. Celestino added two hits and three runs scored, while Mesna contributed key RBIs and played steady defense at shortstop.
The Moundbuilders will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup as they seek to climb the KCAC standings.
