YORK, Neb. – The York University softball team split a doubleheader against Bethany College Thursday afternoon.
Game scores were 2-1 in favor of the Panthers for the opener but the Swedes took the nightcap 4-1.
The Panthers are now 5-21 on the season, including 3-7 in KCAC action. The Swedes stand at 11-13 overall and 4-6 against conference competition.
In game one, neither team could get things going until the home squad broke through in the fourth stanza.
Kennedie Anderson rocketed a one-out offering to right center field. With two away,
Sofia Perez blasted a double down the right field line, allowing Anderson to race home for the one-run advantage.
The score would remain the same until Bethany scored the tying run in the top of the seventh.
The teams could not push across a run in the eighth. In the ninth, York held Bethany off the board. Using the international tiebreaker rule,
Paige Chapman was placed on second base. A sacrifice bunt by Anderson put her on third base. Two batters later, Perez rocketed a single to right field, knocking in the game-winning run.
Head coach
Aaron Alvarez's team was led by Anderson and Perez as each had two hits.
Breanna Underwood had a hit. Perez garnered two RBI while Anderson and Chapman scored.
In the circle,
Bailey Hardey threw the first eight innings. Her outstanding work resulted in four strikeouts. She gave up just one unearned run.
Malia Alvarez came in for the ninth and did not allow a run en route to earning the victory.
Game two saw Bethany take a 1-0 lead in the second frame, but the Panthers quickly knotted the game an inning later. Underwood led off the stanza with a double to center field. After moving to third on a groundout, Perez belted a two-out single to center field, pushing Underwood across home plate.
The Swedes scored the go-ahead run in the fourth and tacked on two more in the fifth for a 4-1 advantage.
The Panthers had a base runner in the seventh, but the squad could not push across the tying run.
For the game,
Sariah Ayala registered two hits, including a double. Anderson, Perez and Underwood also posted base hits. Underwood registered a double and scored.
In the circle, Hardey threw five innings. She gave up four runs on seven hits with a walk. Alvarez tossed the final two frames and registered a strikeout.
The Panthers return to action Saturday when they play at Friends University for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at Yorkpanthers.com.
