WICHITA, Kan. – The Ottawa University softball team split day one of the Friends Invitational on Saturday afternoon. The Braves defeated Dakota State University 9-3 but fell short to Hastings College. 12-11.
Dakota State University W, 9-3
The Braves took the lead in the top of the second inning. With Alex Genty on third,
Mallory Dunn hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Genty to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Ottawa extended its lead in the top of the fourth.
Emma Melvin singled to center and Davanie Medina entered the game as a pinch runner. Genty doubled to left, moving Medina 60 feet from home. The Braves then pulled off a double steal and Media scored, giving OU a 2-0 lead. Genty scored on a ground out and Ottawa led 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, DSU scored three runs to tie the game, 3-3. That is where the score stayed until the top of the sixth.
Addison Spencer walked.
Katie Enneking's triple to right scored Spencer and Ottawa had a 4-3 lead. Enneking stole home, increasing OU's lead to 5-3. Genty's RBI double to left gave the Braves a 6-3 lead. Dunn singled to left, scoring two and the Braves lead 8-3. OU scored its final run of the inning on a triple to right by Roever. Her hit scored Dunn and the Braves had a 9-3 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh it was three up and three down for the Braves and OU took the 9-3 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Alex Genty was 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in one.
- Mallory Dunn led OU with three RBI.
- Megan Kohl pitched four innings.
- Julia Waltman earned the win, striking out one and only allowing one hit.
Hastings College L, 12-11
Hastings jumped out to the early lead with one run in the top of the first and two in the top of the second, 3-0.
The Braves cut into the Bronco lead in the bottom of the third.
Kara Hafenstine singled to left and then stole second.
Katie Enneking's double to right scored Hafenstine and the Braves trailed 3-1.
Emma Melvin's double to left scored Enneking and OU was withing 3-2.
The Broncos answered with four runs in the top of the fourth, taking a 7-2 lead over the Braves. Ottawa earned three of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth.
Megan Kennedy double to left,
Mallory Dunn walked, and
Macy Roever singled to left to load the bases.
Addison Spencer cleared the bases with a double to left and OU was down 7-5.
Hastings were able to increase its lead with four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take an 11-5 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, the Braves were able to cut into the Bronco lead.
Hafenstine singled to right, scoring two and the Braves were within 11-7.
After a scoreless sixth inning by both teams, Hastings scored one run in the top of the seventh to take a 12-7 lead.
Ottawa tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Dunn reached first on an error by the HC shortstop. A double by Roever moved Dunn to third. Hafenstine scored Dunn with an infield singled and OU was down 12-8. Ottawa cut into the lead with a steal of home by Roever and the Braves were within 12-9. Spencer's double to center scored Hafenstine and OU was within 12-10. Enneking singled to right scoring Spencer and OU was down 12-11. The Braves, however, were to score Enneking to tie the game and Hastings took the 12-11 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Both teams finished the game with 15 hits apiece.
- Katie Enneking, Addison Spener, and Kara Hafenstine had three hits apiece.
- Spencer led OU with four RBI. Hafenstine had three RBI.
- Cesara Roque pitched three innings in the loss.
Who is Next
Ottawa (7-7) finishes the Friends Invitational on Sunday, March 2 in Wichita. OU plays Midland University at 10:00 a.m. and Peru State College at 2:40 p.m.
