A weekend filled with near misses finally turned in Allen Community College’s favor Saturday. THE REST OF THE weekend didn’t go as well. BROWN MACKIE gave the Red Devils a rude home-opening doubleheader by defeating Allen 6-2 and 10-7.
The Red Devils, who were one strike away from claiming their first win of the season, instead turned to the long ball in extra innings to claim victory.
Allen’s Maecy Charleston pounded a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for a walk-off, 6-5 win over visiting Cloud County Saturday. The eight-inning victory earned Allen a split of their doubleheader. The Red Devils also dropped two games Friday evening to Brown Mackie.
“This was a good win,” said Allen coach Jamie Amerine, who also earned her first career victory with the blast. “The girls needed this.”
Allen took full advantage of Saturday’s north wind, connecting for three home runs. Mary Reilly’s leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth broke a 3-3 deadlock. She was followed three batters later by Kaitlyn Rash’s solo blast, pushing the lead to 5-3.
Cloud rallied, however. Chantley Lovvorn drilled Audra Nelson’s 0-2 pitch into centerfield for a two-run single to tie the score with two outs in the top of the seventh.
That was the last hit of the day for Cloud.
Nelson went the distance, giving up eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
The Red Devils had an answer for every Cloud rally.
Allen trailed 1-0 when Bailey Burnett reached on an error and scored on Taylor Easum’s triple in the bottom of the first. The rally was snuffed, however, when Reilly’s line drive was snared by Cloud third baseman, who in turn doubled Easum off the base for a double play.
Cloud scored twice in the top of the fifth, which was in turn countered by Rash’s single to lead off the bottom of the inning. She scored on Annie Gentry’s triple. Gentry scored on Bailey Burnett’s single to tie the score.
Rash had two hits, including a home run. Burnett also had two singles. Gentry and Easum both had triples. Charleston’s and Reilly’s home runs were their only hits.
Cloud broke open a 2-1 lead with a three-run fifth inning. The Red Devils rallied for two in the bottom of the sixth, and brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out, but failed to score again.
The Thunderbirds eliminated all suspense with four runs in the top of the seventh.
Easum had a single and a run. Gentry singled with two runs. Katelyn Pedrow had the only other hit, a fourth-inning single.
Rash took the loss, giving up 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Brown Mackie led 6-1 in the finale before Allen rallied for four runs in the third with one out. But the rally ended with Reilly stranded on second after her three-run double.
The Lions led 7-5 when Allen struck for a run in the bottom of the sixth. Charleston doubled in Rash. But Charleston also was stranded after the next two Red Devils struck out.
Brown Mackie responded with three runs in the seventh.
Allen’s last run in the bottom of the seventh came on a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Rash.
Rash gave up 13 hits and three walks in taking the loss. She struck out two.
Reilly went 3-for-4 with a double. Charleston went 2-for-2 with a double. Easum had two singles. Rash had a double. Alexus Douglas and Kaitlin Norris singled.
Brown Mackie led 3-0 in the opener before Allen rallied for two runs in the fourth. Charleston’s double drove in Gentry. Reilly’s sacrifice fly drove in Charleston.
The Lions responded with a run in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the seventh for insurance, although Allen didn’t go quietly.
The Red Devils put runners on first and third in the sixth on singles by Reilly and Norris. Gentry reached on an error and stole a base in the seventh.
Gentry and Norris each had two of Allen’s six hits. Charleston added a double. Reilly singled.
Nelson gave up 12 hits and a walk. She struck out three.
Allen (1-12) heads to Hutchinson for a doubleheader Friday, then to Hesston for a pair Saturday before returning home March 25 for a twinbill against Ottawa’s junior varsity.
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