HESSTON, Kan. — The Hesston College softball team split a doubleheader with Haskell on April 11 at Bess Mullet Field, falling in game one before bouncing back with a strong win in game two.
Game 1 — Haskell 12, Hesston 1
Haskell took control early with a dominant first inning, scoring nine runs on six hits, including a three-run home run from Grace Greenwood to jump out to a 9–0 lead.
Hesston answered in the second inning when Maddie Kulmala doubled to left field to drive in Abigail Cox and cut the deficit to 9–1. The Larks threatened again later in the game with hits from Alexis Newlin and Serena Hewes, but were unable to string together additional runs.
Haskell added two runs in the third and one more in the fifth to extend the lead and secure the 12–1 victory.
Kulmala led the Larks with a double and an RBI, while Newlin, Skye Gomez and Hewes each recorded hits.
Game 2 — Hesston 4, Haskell 0
Hesston responded in game two with a strong all-around performance, using timely hitting and a dominant outing in the circle to earn the shutout win.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Larks broke through in the third. Alexis Newlin singled and later scored on an outfield error, and Serena Hewes followed with a two-run double to give Hesston a 3–0 lead.
The Larks added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Maddie Kulmala tripled and came home on an RBI single from Abigail Cox to make it 4–0.
Moriah Ortiz was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out four.
Hewes led the offense with two RBIs, while Kulmala and Cox each contributed key hits in the win.
The Larks will travel to Texas to face Dallas Christian in a four-game series beginning Friday, April 17.
