McPherson, Kan. – The Central Christian College Softball team played their first home games of the season yesterday, splitting a doubleheader with the Bethel College Threshers.
Bethel got the hot start in the first game, scoring 6 runs (4 earned) in the first two innings off of Tigers starting pitcher Clarissa Rejino. After that Rejino would settle in and end up finishing the game without allowing another run to score. Unfortunately the Tigers struggled to get offense going in the first game, generating just 5 hits with their only run of the game coming in the 6th inning on a ball in play up the middle from Baylee Blackburn that could not be fielded cleanly. The Tigers would drop game 1 by a score of 6-1 and look to regroup for game 2.
Game 2 would be much better for the Tigers at the plate, scoring 7 runs all in the 3rd and 4th innings fueled by an RBI single from Ashley Vaccaro, a two run homerun from Abby Schleisman, and then three more RBI singles in the 4th inning from Ciara Valadez, Ashley Vaccaro, and Abby Schleisman. Starting pitcher Chelsie Hirtler would also throw a complete game for the Tigers in this one. Hirtler pitched 5 scoreless innings to start the game and then Bethel was able to generate a big 5 run 6th inning to get back into the game. The Threshers would tack on 1 more run in the 7th but with runners on with 2 outs, Hirtler was able to generate a flyout to Schleisman in Centerfield to end the game as the Tigers were able to hold on for a 7-6 win.
The Tigers are now 5-3 on the season and will head down to Plainview, Texas this weekend for their first conference series of the season against Wayland Baptist University. The games will be streamed on the SAC Sports Network and Urban Edge Network.
