Allen Community College’s softball team was able to dodge the raindrops over the weekend, playing doubleheaders Friday in Hutchinson and Saturday in Hesston. ON SATURDAY, Hesston broke open a 3-1 lead with six runs in the bottom of the fifth in a 9-1 victory.
The Red Devils were unable to come up with a victory, however, dropping 5-1 and 4-2 decisions to Hutchinson, and 9-1 and 5-4 losses to Hesston. The losses drop Allen to 1-18 on the season.
Allen recorded hits in five of their seven innings in Friday’s opener, but mustered only a single run when Maecy Charleston led off the fifth with a double. She scored on a two-out single by Taylor Easum. By then, Hutchinson led 4-0, including a three-run second.
Charleston added a single for Allen. Paige Rothwell went 2-for-3, while Mary Reilly and Easum singled once.
Audra Nelson took the loss, giving up six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
A late rally in the finale Friday came up short in the 4-2 loss.
Hutchinson led 3-0 before the Red Devils scored single runs in the fifth and sixth frames.
Easum singled in Lauren Poertner in the top of the fifth, and Kaitlyn Rash led off the sixth with a home run.
But other scoring chances were held at bay. Poertner doubled to lead off the third, but was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice by Hutchinson’s pitcher.
Easum singled twice. Annie Gentry added a single.
Rash gave up nine hits with a strikeout to take the loss.
Allen’s only run came on an RBI double by Kaitlin Norris in the fourth, driving in Poertner, who led off the inning with a single.
Poertner went 2-for-2. Easum and Gentry singled.
Nelson was saddled with the loss, giving up nine hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Hesston broke out of the gates early in the 5-4 nightcap, scoring four in the first.
The Red Devils pulled to within 4-3 before Hesston scored its decisive run in the bottom of the sixth. An error and wild pitch accounted for the Red Devils’ final run in the top of the seventh.
Rothwell blasted a two-run home run in the fifth for Allen, one of only four hits. Allen put two runners on in both the first and second innings — Easum and Stormie Bush both singled. A double play ended the first-inning scoring threat. A pair of ground balls ended the Allen hopes in the second. Reilly also singled.
Rash gave up eight hits and two walks in the loss.
Allen travels to Neosho County Tuesday for a doubleheader before returning home this weekend for doubleheaders against Pratt Friday and Dodge City Saturday.
ACC softball squad falls short
