LINDSBORG, Kan. — The Hesston College softball team faced a challenging road test Wednesday afternoon, falling 16–1 and 10–2 in a doubleheader at Bethany College.
Game 1 – Bethany 16, Hesston 1 (5 innings)
Bethany took an early lead in the first inning with an RBI single, but the Larks responded in the second. Chloe Merjil singled to center field, stole second and third, and scored on an RBI groundout by Mia Manzo to tie the game at 1–1.
The Swedes answered quickly, plating three runs in the bottom of the second and adding another in the third to build a 5–1 advantage. Bethany then broke the game open in the fourth inning with 11 runs on seven hits, highlighted by a grand slam from U. Rivas and multiple extra-base hits.
Hesston collected four hits in the opener. Merjil finished 1-for-1 with a run scored and two stolen bases, while Skye Gomez, Manzo and Serena Hewes each added a hit. Bailey Symons started in the circle, with Kali Adams and Moriah Ortiz providing relief.
Game 2 – Bethany 10, Hesston 2
Bethany again struck first in game two, using a triple and a sacrifice fly to take a 1–0 lead in the opening inning. The Swedes added two more runs in the third after capitalizing on a defensive miscue to extend the margin to 3–0.
Hesston broke through in the fifth. Corlyn McGaha worked a walk and stole second before Gabriella Pantoja delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3–1.
Bethany answered with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth and added four more in the sixth to pull away.
The Larks added their final run in the sixth inning. Merjil singled to center and later scored when Alexis Newlin grounded into a double play, bringing the final score to 10–2.
Hesston finished with six hits in the second game. Ciara Mendez led the way with two hits, including a double, while Pantoja, Merjil, Manzo and Hewes each recorded one. Arlynn Smith went 5.2 innings in the circle for the Larks.
The next matchup for the Larks will be a doubleheader on Tuesday, February 24th at Sterling College.
