BORGER, Texas - Taking the field for the first time in 2017, the Dodge City Community College softball team allowed a total of two runs over a pair of games to come away with a 10-1 win over Frank Phillips College before defeating North Platte Community College 2-1 to open their 2017 season in Borger, Texas on Friday, February 17th.
After watching their counterparts play for the past two weeks, the Conquistadors finally got on the field and out to a 2-0 start on the season while the Plainswomen dropped to 0-13 and the Lady Knights slipped to 2-5 overall.
In game, one sophomore Pitcher
Kim Herron flirted with a no-hitter before falling one out short of accomplishing the feat in the season opener while also getting things done at the plate. In addition to throwing a complete-game two hitter, the Shawnee, Oklahoma native struck out nine of the 18 batters she faced while going two-for-four at the plate with a pair of RBI's. Dodge City would open the scoring with
Kylie Fox and
Brittney Gonzalez opening the game with a pair of hits before Fox would score on a passed ball. DC3 would score six runs in the first while batting around the order and sending 11 batters to the plate. The Conquistadors would tack on single runs in each of the next four innings to take a commanding 10-0 lead before conceding just a single run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game via the run rule.
DC3 would outhit the Plainswomen with each team committing one error as both of Frank Phillips' hits would come with two-outs in the fifth. Gonzalez would record the game's only extra-base hit in the game with a double in the first-inning while also scoring two runs.
Taylor Menard would match Herron's two hits in the game while driving in one run.
Game two saw a pitcher's duel break out against North Platte as all three runs scored in the game would be unearned. After a 1-2-3 top of the first by freshman
Jordyn McDaniel, DC3 would put their first two runners on before and then load the bases with one out before the Lady Knight's would escape unscathed. McDaniel would allow just one base runner in the second as the Conquistadors would make the most of their base runners in the second with
Brooklyn Botts reaching on an error to start the inning followed by a Menard single. After
Baylee Rial would sacrifice bunt the two into scoring position, a passed ball would allow
Morgan Ihle, who came in to pinch run for Botts, to score and move Menard over to third. Fox would be walked to put runner's on the corners and then get into a rundown play on a delayed steal, which would give Menard enough time to score and put DC3 up 2-0. Both pitchers would settle into a groove for the next several innings, as chances would be limited for until the top of the seventh. North Platte's would threaten in the top of the seventh by putting their leadoff batter on before advancing to second on DC3's only error of the game. After a groundout would advance the runner to third, a sacrifice fly by Sami Gill would end the shutout by McDaniel and cut the Dodge City lead to 2-1. McDaniel would respond by getting the next batter up to fly out to center field and allow the Conquistadors to sweep the day.
Limited to just three hits in the game, DC3 would get their offensive production from Gonzalez, Menard and
Breanna Guerrero with a hit each while also benefiting from four walks allowed by North Platte. NPCC would leave three runners on base while the Conquistadors left five. McDaniel would pick up the win in her collegiate debut for DC3, throwing a a complete game on five hits and one run while fanning three.
A quick turnaround awaits Dodge City, playing their home opener tomorrow afternoon at Legends Field against Northeastern Junior College for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. The Plainswomen are 0-5 on the year heading into the twinbill.
