Dodge City softball played to a split on the road against Barton, using a strong outing from Avery McCloskey in game two to bounce back from a tough game one loss. Conquistadors' comeback attempt in game one fell short at 10-9, but the Conqs earned a 6-1 victory in game two.

The split in Great Bend moves the Conqs to 26-12 on the season and 10-4 in Jayhawk Conference action. The victory in game two is the first road win over Barton since 2019. 

Conqs step out of conference play on Monday, March 30th, to continue the season as they travel to Colorado to take on Lamar for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm. 

Game 1 – Lost 10-9 at Barton 
While the home run ball played a big role in the ball game for the Conqs, it was a seven-run second inning by Barton that ultimately doomed Dodge City in game one loss, as the comeback attempt fell short. Avery McCloskey got the scoring rolling, belting a solo home run in the first inning for the Conqs, but Barton countered with a run in the bottom of the frame. In the second inning, a couple of Conq errors helped aid Barton as they scored seven runs, including getting a grand slam. Conqs used the home run ball to push back in the fourth as Loren Sweat blasted a two-run shot and Dezarae Schmidt added a solo homer. Barton scratched a run across in the bottom of the fourth before both teams scored again in the fifth. Riley Moore hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth for the Conqs, and then Barton tallied a run in the bottom of the fifth, making it 10-6. Conqs continued to fight, getting on the board again in the sixth with a Sweat solo homer, and Karen Galaviz drove in two with a double, pulling the Conqs to within one. The Conqs, down to their final three outs, were unable to score again in the seventh, falling 10-9. 

Sweat and Moore paced the Conqs offense, which had 10 hits in the loss. It was a 2-4 game with two runs scored, two home runs, and three RBI, while Moore was 2-3 with two runs scored, two RBI, a walk, a double, and a home run. 

Jordyn Boxberger started the game, going 1.2 innings, while Karli George tossed 4.1 innings of relief. 

Game 2 – Won 6-1 at Barton
The offense got rolling early for the Conqs in the second game of the doubleheader as Galaviz was hit by a pitch and then McCloskey tattooed a two-run homer in the first. The Conqs after an out then had Sweat draw a walk, and Kloe Nelson then belted her first home run of the season, ultimately making it 4-0 Conqs. In the fifth, the Conqs got a leadoff walk by Moore, and she worked her way around the base pads coming in to score on a passed ball. In the top of the seventh, the Conqs added more insurance as McCloskey blasted her second home run of the game and third of the day. In the bottom of the seventh, Barton opened the frame with a solo home run and then had a single and double to follow, but the Conqs settled back in and recorded three-straight outs to secure the 6-1 win. 

The Conqs were led by McCloskey in the game, who was stellar inside the circle, going all seven innings, giving up just one run on four hits and no walks, while striking out three. She added a 2-4 game at the plate with three RBI, two home runs, and two runs scored. George added a 2-3 game with a walk.