Dodge City softball battled the elements of a ferocious wind along with taking on KJCCC foe the Northwest Kansas Tech Mavericks for a twin-bill and picked up their first two wins of the season behind 47 runs.
The Conquistadors picked up wins of 20-5 and 27-6 both in five innings of action to move to 2-12 on the season. The 27 runs in one game mark the most runs since March 11th, 2014 when the Conqs beat Brown Mackie College 27-5.
Up next the Conqs hit the road to square off with Pratt on Saturday, March 2nd for a KJCCC doubleheader starting at noon.
Game 1 – Won 20-5 vs Northwest Kansas Tech
It was early and often offense on the day for the Conqs leading to their pair of wins but it started with working around a pair of Maverick base runners in the top of the first of the game one turning a double play to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the first the Conqs would bat around scoring four runs with a two RBI single by Sayge Salmans and an RBI single by Camryn Lenz. Mavericks made it a one-run game by scoring three in the top of the second and had a chance for the lead but left the bases loaded. Conqs countered in the bottom of the second by tallying four more runs with a two-RBI double by Rylie Miller highlighting the inning. Each team would get a run in the third inning and then the Conqs broke the game wide open behind an 11-run bottom of the fourth. The fourth was highlighted by six extra-base hits to help produce the 11 runs in the inning. The door was shut by the Conqs in the top of the fifth after the Mavericks tallied one more run as the Conqs earned a 20-5 win. The win is the first under Head Coach, Mike Viramontez.
The Conqs pounded out 16 hits in the win with four players recording a multi-hit game. Salmans paced the Conqs going 4-4 with four RBI, two runs scored, and a triple, while Lenz was 3-4 with four RBI, two runs scored, a triple, and a double. Abigail Taylor added a 2-5 game with four runs scored, two RBI, and a double. Reneau Ratzlaff chipped in a 2-5 game with two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Toni Gabaldon earned the win in the circle tossing all five innings.
Game 2 – Won 27-6 vs Northwest Kansas Tech
The second game of the day featured early offense also as both teams got on the board in the first inning. Northwest Kansas Tech took the lead by sending eight to the plate and scoring three in the top of the first inning but the Conqs didn't wait long to answer. In the bottom of the first the Conqs would bat around and tally seven runs with an RBI double by Gabaldon, a two-RBI double by Salmans, and a two-RBI single by Lenz highlighting the inning. Conqs would blank the Mavericks the next two innings while scoring 20 runs over the second and third. In the second the Conqs would bat around twice to plate 16 runs as the inning featured eight hits, six walks, two hit batters, and two Maverick errors. In the bottom of the third, the Conqs added three more runs as Lenz had another double with two RBI, while Northwest Kansas Tech managed just three more runs. The Conqs would secure the 27-5 win in five innings to earn the doubleheader sweep.
Five Conqs recorded a multi-hit game as the Conqs tallied 19 hits in the victory. Salmans would go 5-5 with four runs scored, four RBI, and two doubles, while Miller was 3-4 with four RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. Gabaldon added a 3-5 game with two runs scored, three RBI, and a double, with Lenz chipping in a 3-5 contest with five RBI, four runs scored, two doubles, and a stolen base. Hannah Garcia added a 2-3 game with two runs scored, two RBI, and a walk.
