Air-tight defense, solid pitching and timely hitting paved the way Tuesday for Allen Community College’s first win on the softball diamond since March 9.
The Red Devils scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to topple visiting Neosho County, 8-5, ending what had been a 20-game losing streak.
Alas, Allen’s chance at a sweep evaporated in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s finale.
The Panthers plated five runs of their own to turn a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 victory.
“It was good to get a split,” ACC head coach Nicole Peters said, “but we definitely could have used a sweep. I’m still proud of the girls today, and how they played.”
The split sets up a frenetic finish to the regular season. Allen travels to Coffeyville Thursday before hosting the first set of three doubleheaders Saturday against Fort Scott. The Red Devils also host Cloud County and Kansas City Kansas next week.
The opening game was filled with tension from start to finish.
After spotting the Panthers a quick 1-0 lead, ACC strung together a two-out rally in the bottom of the third on a single by Hailee Lundine, a double by Mikayla Long and singles by Kobey McDonald and Arisbei Black to take a 3-1 lead.
Starting pitcher Madelynn Collins made the lead stick until the Panthers rallied for two in the top of the sixth to knot the score.
But Allen centerfielder Alayna Brown prevented further damage with a spectacular diving grab to end the inning with the bases loaded.
“We did a good job defensively, out in the field,” Peters said. “Maddie threw well, and the defense played well behind her.”
Kinsey Stuewe and Makayla Howard worked back-to-back one-out singles and Kelsey Morrison drew a walk to load the bases for the aforementioned Brown. Perhaps even more key, all three reached base with two strikes.
“We saw quite a bit of their pitching,” Peters said. “We hit well today.”
Brown didn’t need to wait for the decisive hit. She blasted the first pitch she saw into left field for a single to score pinch runner Alyson Skaggs for a 4-3 lead.
She then wandered just far off enough from the base to solicit a throw from the catcher, giving Howard a sliver of an opening to steal home.
Lindsay Shippy then fouled off a pair of 1-2 pitches before drilling a single to score Morrison to push the advantage to 6-3. Neosho County then misplayed a fielder’s choice, allowing both Brown and Shippy to score for a five-run lead.
