Dodge City softball opened KJCCC action with their first home games of the season hosting Barton and while the Conquistadors would challenge the Cougars well it was ultimately Barton grabbing a pair of wins 9-3 and 7-4.
The losses leave the Conqs looking for their first wins of the season as they fall to 0-12 and 0-2 in KJCCC action.
Up next the Conqs will continue KJCCC action as they take on Northwest Kansas Tech on Tuesday, February 27th for a doubleheader.
Game 1 – Lost 9-3 vs Barton
The Conqs opened the day seeing Barton sending all nine batters to the plate in the top of the first inning leading to the Cougars scoring three runs to take the lead. A solo home run by Barton would make it 4-0 in the top of the third but the Conqs cut into that lead in the fourth with a pair of runs with RBI singles from Madison Kacer and Ally Hamblin. In the fifth Barton would push the lead back out with three runs, while Emily Yelton would belt a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth for the Conqs to make it 7-3 after five innings. Barton would tally two runs in the top of the seventh and the Conqs would have two more runners in the bottom of the seventh but would be unable to score falling 9-3.
In the loss Yelton had a solo home run with two runs scored, while Kacer and Hamblin each recorded RBI singles. Abigail Taylor finished 2-4 and reached on an error.
Game 2 – Lost 7-4 vs Barton
The second game of the doubleheader saw Barton get on the board early again as the Cougars tallied two runs in the first and two more in the second to lead 4-0 after two innings. The Conqs would break through in the fourth with back-to-back singles by Taylor and Josie Oakley to open the inning and then an RBI groundout from Rylie Miller to make it a 6-1 game as Barton tallied two more runs in the top of the fourth. A leadoff double by Toni Gabaldon followed by an RBI single by Hannah Garcia in the fifth got the Conqs their second run. After another run in the top of the sixth for Barton the Conqs answered with two behind RBI singles by Miller and Yelton making it 7-4 entering the seventh inning. After a one-two-three defensive top of the seventh for the Conqs, they would work the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh but would be unable to score falling 7-4.
Taylor finished 2-3 with a run scored and walk, while Gabaldon was 1-3 with a double and run scored. Miller, Yelton, and Garcia each had RBI singles, while Camryn Lenz, Reneau Ratzlaff, and Oakley each had a hit, also.
