Dodge City softball bounced back into the win column with a big split at home against Barton in a pair of games that were competitive duels. The Conquistadors dropped tough game one 5-2 but behind a five-run sixth earned a 7-2 game two win over the Cougars of Barton.

The split for the Conqs moves them to 20-20 on the season and 12-10 in KJCCC action. The win in game two also snapped a nine-game losing streak against Barton in the series and a four-game losing streak for the Conqs. 

Conqs look to cap the week strong on Saturday, April 12th when they hit the road to take on Pratt in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm. 

Game 1 – Lost 5-2 vs Barton
It would prove to be a day of limited offense for most of the action on both sides as the Conqs battled with the Cougars. Barton got on the board early with a run in the first, but the Conqs would keep them off the board again until the fifth. In the fourth, the Conqs broke through scoring two runs with a two RBI triple by Jordyn Boxberger giving the Conqs a 2-1 lead. Top of the fifth, Barton used three hits, a walk, and a Conq error to score three runs and then added a run in the sixth and the Conqs would be unable to get anything going the rest of the way falling 5-2. 

The Conqs bats were stymied by Barton's pitching as the Conqs had just three hits and struckout 14 times. Boxberger finished 1-3 with a triple and two RBI, while Whitley Cash and Kaylee Kinsinger each had a hit. 

Frankie Martens was strong in the loss tossing 4.2 innings giving up just four runs, on five hits, and four walks, while striking out two. Shyann Clark tossed 2.1 innings of relief. 

Game 2 – Won 7-2 vs Barton
The early portion of the game was eerily like the first part of game one, but late-game offense opportunities presented themselves for the Conqs and they capitalized to take the Cougars for the first time since 2023. Barton just like game one got on the board with a run in the first and would hold a 1-0 lead until the fourth when the Conqs worked the bases loaded and a sacrifice fly by Karen Galaviz tied the game. In the fifth, the Conqs swung the lead to their side with an RBI single by Anistyn Marcotte but in the sixth Barton had an answer with a run to tie the game at 2-2. In the bottom of the sixth the Conqs would bat around starting with an infield single by Kinsinger and then a single by Galaviz, two wild pitches by the relief pitcher for Barton would bring in two runs for the Conqs and then a two-RBI single by Marcotte scored two more, while the Conqs also added one more for five runs in the sixth. Looking for three outs to secure the win the Conqs set Barton down in order earning the 7-2 victory. 

Boxberger was stellar in the circle to earn the win tossing all seven innings giving up just two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two. 

Offensively the Conqs had a quartet of ladies have a multi-hit game. Galaviz finished 2-3 with a run scored and RBI, while Cash added a 2-4 game with a run scored and double. Marcotte was 2-3 with three RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Kinsinger finished 2-3 with a run scored.