OTTAWA, Kan. – The (RV) Ottawa University softball team took two from Southwestern College on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Park in the final home game of the regular season. Ottawa won both games in five innings, taking game one, 15-2 and game two, 12-2. The double header with Southwestern was head coach
Jay Kahnt's last home series of his coaching career. Kahnt has a record of 251-106-1 at home for a total of 358 games. A school record was broken in the double header.
Reagan Hammons set a new single season home run record, connecting on her 13
th of the season in the bottom of the second inning in game one.
Game One
Ottawa struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Macy Roever walked and then swiped second.
Addison Spencer reached second on a throwing error by the SWC shortstop and Roever scored, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Kara Hafenstine's ground out to the pitcher moved Spencer to third.
Reagan Hammons scored her with a single to left, increasing the OU lead to 2-0. Ottawa scored its final run of the inning on
Emma Melvin's double to left and the Braves had a 3-0 lead.
The Braves pushed eight runs across home plate in the bottom of the second on eight hits and one error.
Reagan Hammons hit her 13
th home run of the season, a three run shot, in the inning and OU led 11-0. The home run set a new OU single season home run record.
Southwestern scored a run in the top of the third, cutting OU's lead to 11-1. The Braves earned that run back, plus three more in the bottom of the third.
Rachel Pederson reached first in an error by the SWC third baseman. A walk by Hafenstine gave OU runners on first and second. Hammons hit a double to left, scoring both Hafenstine and Pederson, giving Ottawa a 13-1 lead. Melvin followed that with a single to right, scoring Hammons and Ottawa led 14-1
Cierra Faubion hit a single to right, moving
Lanie Becker to second. Becker had entered the game as a pinch runner for Melvin.
Megan Kennedy doubled to left, scoring Becker and OU had a 15-1 lead.
The Moundbuilders scored a run in the top of the fourth and Ottawa took the 15-2 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Megan Kennedy and Reagan Hammons were a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Hammons scored three runs and drove in six runs. Kennedy scored two runs and had two RBI.
- The last time a Brave had six RBI in a game was on April 16, 2023. Madison Bunfill had six RBI in game two against McPherson College.
- Ashlynn Mercer pitched two innings, striking out one.
- Madison Carney pitched three innings, striking out two.
Game Two
Ottawa took the lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Macy Roever led off the Braves with a bunt single and then stole second.
Addison Spencer's ground out to second moved Roever 60 feet from home.
Rachel Pederson's ground out to third scored Roever and OU led 1-0.
Southwestern responded by scoring two runs in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead over OU. The Braves answered in the bottom of the second. Ottawa scored eight runs on nine hits.
Megan Kennedy hit her second home run of the season and the Braves led 9-2.
The Braves pushed three more runs across home plate in the bottom of the third.
Kara Hafenstine's RBI single to left gave OU a 10-2 lead.
Reagan Hammons singled to left scoring two and the Braves took the lead and the game, 12-2.
Inside the Box Score
Who is Next
Ottawa (35-13, 19-5) finishes the regular season on Friday, April 26 in Lindsborg, Kan. against Bethany College. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
