HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Salthawks hosted Buhler at Fun Valley Sports Complex on Thursday in a softball doubleheader. In game one, the Crusaders used a big third inning on their way to an eight-run win. The Salthawks took a five-run lead late in game two on two occasions and held on for a two-run victory to earn the split.
Game 1: Buhler 9, Hutchinson 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| Buhler: | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 3 | ||
| Hutchinson: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Buhler opened the scoring in the second inning as Maddie Stallman led off with a double and was later driven in by an RBI single for Lilly Horne. The Crusaders broke the game open in the third inning putting up six runs. Leadoff hitter Izy Schmidt and number two hitter Tori Tustian each reached base on singles and Schmidt scored on an error that put Ella Thiessen on base.. A two-RBI double from Alexa Adame opened the floodgates as the Crusaders took a 4-0 lead. Stallman drove another run in with a single and Horne had an RBI double before Tustian walked in her second plate appearance of the inning to bring home the final run in the third.
Buhler held a 7-0 lead all the way to the bottom of the sixth inning when Kohlbie Craft belted a solo home run to center to put the Salthawks on the board. Leading 7-1 in the top of the seventh inning, the Crusaders got a two-RBI double from Schmidt to round out a 9-1 win.
Horne picked up the win for Buhler, giving up just one run on six hits and striking out three, moving to 4-1 on the season.
Game 2: Hutchinson 13, Buhler 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| Buhler: | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 3 | ||
| Hutchinson: | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | X | 13 | 13 | 6 |
Buhler’s first four batters reached base in the first inning, but Hutchinson starting pitcher Kierah Sterling got settled in and allowed just one run in the top of the inning. The Salthawks responded with three in the bottom of the first to lead 3-1. A two-RBI single from Jaden Durant got things started and Alaina Borders drove another in on a double. Buhler came back with two in the top of the second to tie the game. Tori Tustian tripled and Ella Thiessen doubled to bring in the runs. Hutchinson came back again with three in the bottom of the second. Brooke Hogan and Kohlbie Craft had RBI singles and Baylee Pickering walked with the bases loaded to bring home another run.
Buhler got back within one run in the third as Annistyn Cram scored on an error. Leading 6-4, the Salthawks tacked on another run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly from Yazmin Pena. Cram had an RBI double in the top of the fourth to get the Crusaders back within two at 7-5.
After two scoreless half-innings, Craft opened the game up with a three-run homer to left in the bottom of the fifth to give Hutch a 10-5 lead. Buhler came back with three runs in the top of the sixth, as Kinley Combs, Peyton DeBerry and Macy Miller all scored on errors, cutting the lead to 10-8. The Salthawks responded strong with another three-run inning in the bottom of the sixth. Pena brought in two on a double and later scored on an error to put Hutchinson up 13-8 going into the seventh.
Buhler went on the attack in the top of the seventh as Thiessen and Brynlee Adams scored on an error to cut the lead to 13-10 and Maddie Stallman also scored on an error to cut the lead to 13-11. Tustian was at the plate with the bases loaded and two out and with a 2-2 count, Craft got her to strike out swinging to seal the two-run win.
Craft was the leader offensively for Hutchinson in game two, going 2-3 with the three-run homer and four RBI. She walked twice, including and intentional pass in the sixth. Pena went 2-4 with three RBI. Pickering walked three times, reaching base on all five plate appearances with a couple of singles and four runs scored. Hutch is now 1-3 after the split doubleheader.
Buhler moved to 5-3 on the season with the 1-1 day. Thiessen went 4-5 with two RBI to lead the Crusaders at the plate in game two.
