Softball Picks up Split with Sterling

Sterling, KS – The Hastings College softball picked up its first win of the 2024 campaign by winning game one over Sterling 11-8 in eight innings before dropping game two 8-0 in six innings on Friday afternoon.

The Lady Broncos saw themselves trailing 4-2 heading into the seventh inning but little did everyone know this game was just beginning.

Katyn Kappler got the inning started with a single to left and then Taylor Stuhr roped a double to left center putting runners on second and third with no outs. After a fly out, Isabel Tannabe single to short to load the bases. Sam Skinner picked up a sacrifice fly to center that scored Kappler to make it 4-3. 

Then Macie Mays hit a line drive right at the second baseman that bounced off her glove and into right field to keep Hastings alive as the bases were loaded once again. Next came a wild pitch that allowed Stuhr to score the tying run.

Hastings wasn't done yet as two batters later Elana Gerhard got hit by a pitch that plated Tanabe for the 5-4 lead. Lauren Schneider hit a bloop single to right that scored Nicole Halsey and Lexie Mudloff as HC now led 7-4.

Kyleigh Boever would then face two runners on with two out and an 0-2 count on Alyssa Mason but her next pitch caught too much of the plate as Mason sent the ball over the left center field fence to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

This is where the international rule comes into play as Kappler was placed at second to start the inning. Stuhr would single to third followed by an infield single from Rayleigh Guyer to load the bases. Tanabe then hit a rocket right at the second baseman but the ball bounced out of her glove allowing Kappler to score. Skinner stepped up next and smacked a 2 RBI double  which allowed Guyer and Stuhr to score as HC now led 10-7. Mudloff would get a sac fly to plate Tanabe as Hastings took an 11-7 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Boever would only allow the placed runner to score as Hastings came away with the 11-8 victory in game one. Stuhr and Tanabe each had two hits in the win while Skinner finished with three RBIs. Mudloff went 1-for-1 with three walks and two RBIs. Schneider also added two RBIs.

Game two was all Sterling as Mudloff, Tanabe and Halsey each went 2-for-3 in the loss.

Hastings is now 1-3 on the year and will be back in action Saturday Feb. 17 hitting the road to take on Bethany in a doubleheader with first pitch set for 1:00 pm down in Lindsborg, KS.