YORK, Neb. – The York University softball team split a doubleheader with Southwestern Wednesday afternoon behind a tremendous outing for
Kennedie Anderson in the second game.
The Panthers lost the first game 10-5 before responding with a resounding 19-7 victory in the nightcap.
The Panthers are now 6-24 on the season, including 4-10 in KCAC action.
Head coach
Aaron Alvarez's team trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the second,
Nevaeh Reed drew a lead-off walk and hustled to second on a wild pitch. After scampering to third on a passed ball,
Sariah Ayala's groundout allowed Reed to race home, cutting the deficit in half.
Southwestern scored seven runs in the fourth, but York cut into the deficit in the bottom of the stanza.
Carla Martinez recorded a one-out single through the left side and moved to second on Ayala's infield hit. Two batters later,
Breanna Underwood ripped a double to the gap in left center field, knocking in Martinez.
The teams traded runs in the sixth frame. The Panthers got their run when Underwood tallied a two-out single to right field. After swiping second,
Paige Chapman singled up the middle, driving in Underwood.
Down 10-3 in the seventh,
Sofia Perez led off the inning with a single to left field.
Emma Morphew came in as a pinch runner and scored on
Tricia Trice's double to left field.
Reed walked and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Ayala singled up the middle and Reed scored on a fielding error for the final run.
For the game, Ayala, Chapman, Perez, Trice and Underwood had two hits apiece.
In the circle,
Kaitlyn Roe went the distance and had a strikeout. Only three of the runs scored in the game were earned.
Game two saw the Panthers jump out to a 3-0 advantage in the first inning. Underwood started the bottom of the inning with a single up the middle. Anderson's infield hit pushed Underwood to second and Chapman's base knock loaded the bags.
Perez got the team on the board with a sacrifice fly. An error allowed Anderson to race home before Reed's groundout pushed Chapman across home plate for a three-run edge.
Down 6-3 in the second, Alvarez's team responded in a big way.
Gracie Torstensen, Ayala and Underwood all singled to load the bases. Anderson cleared the bags with a grand slam for a 7-6 lead.
After Chapman singled up the middle, Perez belted a two-run homer over the left center field fence. Noelker singled, Reed was hit by a pitch and
Ariana Barcelo recorded a base hit to load the bases. Two batters later, Noelker and Reed scored on a fielder's choice. Anderson doubled home Barcelo and Ayala for a 13-6 advantage.
Up 13-7, Torstensen's sacrifice fly in the third added to the lead. Ayala singled in Noelker and Anderson ripped a single, driving in Barcelo, for a nine-run margin.
The home team added three more runs in the fourth. Noelker registered a one-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Barcelo's single pushed Noelker to third and both came home when Torstensen blasted a three-run homer.
For the game, York pounded out 20 hits as eight student-athletes notched multi-hit games. Anderson registered four hits, including a homer and a double, while driving in seven runs and scoring two. Barcelo and Noelker had three hits apiece and each scored three times. Ayala, Chapman, Perez, Torstensen and Underwood notched two hits each. Perez and Torstensen each had a homer while Torstensen pounded out four RBI.
In the circle,
Alex Harwell went the distance for the win. She had a strikeout in the five-inning victory.
The Panthers return to action Saturday when they host Oklahoma Wesleyan for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at Yorkpanthers.com.
