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HCC Sports Information
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
TONKAWA, Okla. –
Walks and errors were the major culprits for the Hutchinson
Community College softball team in dropping a season-opening
doubleheader on Wednesday against Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa.
In the opening game,
a powerful Northern Oklahoma had eight hits against Courtney Johnson
and Danielle Driscoll, but the Lady Dragons added six walks and
three errors in a 10-2 loss that was stopped in the sixth inning.
Then in the
nightcap, a walk and two errors were key in a seven-run Maverick
first inning as Northern Oklahoma completed the sweep with an 8-4
victory over HCC.
Game 2 recap – NOC 8, HCC 4
The Lady Dragons
allowed six unearned runs in Northern Oklahoma’s seven-run first
inning. Freshman starter Haley Fowler allowed just two hits, but a
walk and two two-out errors poured the gasoline on the Mavs’ big
first inning.
But unlike the
opener, the Lady Dragons battled back to get into the game. After
scoring a single run in the first inning, sophomore Kelli Dennis
ripped a three-run double to right field in the second inning that
pulled Hutchinson back within 7-4.
Both pitching staffs
settled in after that. Fowler (0-1) allowed only three hits, seven
runs (only one earned), walked five and struck out two in four
innings. Sophomore Kelli Walker allowed no hits and one unearned run
in two innings of work.
Northern Oklahoma
pitcher Ashley Smith went the distance, striking out nine. She gave
up six hits, four earned runs and one walk while hitting three HCC
hitters.
Sophomore third
baseman Dusty Smith went 2 for 3 and sophomore second baseman Briana
Elman had two bunt singles to lead the Lady Dragons (0-2). Dennis
had the only extra base hit and preseason All-American Jessica Glenn
had the only other base hit for HCC.
GAME 2 BOXSCORE
Game 1 recap – NOC 10, HCC 2
Northern Oklahoma,
which already has posted a 20-run game earlier this season against
Allen County –
scored in five of
its six offensive innings and pounded out eight hits against two HCC
pitchers in Game 1.
The Lady Dragons
scratched single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
In the fourth, after
sophomore Ashley Cushinberry delivered a one-out bunt single and
Dennis singled on a hit-and-run, designated player Chelsey Hargett
singled to center to drive in HCC’s first run of the season.
In the fifth,
freshman Megan Meigs doubled down the left-field line to open the
inning and was driven in by a double down the right-field line by
freshman Shonda Brown.
Six different Lady
Dragons had one hit each.
Johnson (0-1)
pitched four innings and allowed six hits and four earned runs,
while striking out six and walking four. Driscoll allowed three
unearned runs in one inning, giving up two hits and three walks
while striking out one.
The Lady Dragons
will travel to the Sterling College Junior Varsity at 2 p.m. on
Monday in Sterling.
GAME 1 BOXSCORE |
