It was a strong all-around day for the Dodge City softball team at home on Wednesday against Barton as the Conquistadors earned a pair of run-rule 10-2 wins over the Cougars.
The victories moved the Conqs to 39-15 on the season and 21-7 in KJCCC action. While the two wins also mark a 3-1 record in the series with the Cougars, this gives the Conqs their first series win in a season against Barton since 2012. Two conference wins also give head coach
Mike Viramontez 50 conference wins in his coaching career at Dodge City.
Only four games remain in the regular season as the Conqs travel to Colby on Friday, May 1st for a doubleheader with the Trojans, and then wrap up the regular season on Saturday, May 2nd at home against Colby.
Game 1 – Won 10-2 vs Barton (5 innings)
Barton pounced on the lead early, scoring a run on three hits in the first inning, but the Conqs responded in the bottom of the frame. Nearly batting around in the first, the Conqs took advantage of some Barton miscues and scored four runs, highlighted by a two-RBI single from
Kloe Nelson. Barton made it a two-run game in the third with a run, but in the bottom of the fourth, the Conqs scored four to double their output and extend the lead. Batting around in the fourth, the Conqs got a two-run homer from
Karen Galaviz and a two-RBI triple from
Riley Moore in the inning. Leading 8-2, the Conqs got a pair of walks in the bottom of the fifth, and Galaviz delivered a two-RBI double to cap the game in five innings at 10-2.
In the circle,
Karli George was strong, giving up just two runs on six hits and no walks, while striking out five, earning her 17th win of the season in the circle.
Galaviz paced the offense, going 2-3 with two runs scored, four RBI, a home run, a walk, and a double. Nelson added a 2-2 outing with two RBI, a run scored, and a walk.
Game 2 – Won 10-2 vs Barton (6 innings)
The second game of the day was much like the first as the Conqs fell behind early but controlled the game overall. Barton tallied a run on a solo home run in the second, but the Conqs countered with an RBI double from George. The Conqs went on to score in every half inning following their first run of the game in the second, while Bartong got a run in the fifth. A two RBI triple by
Cadie McCracken drove in two in the third, a three-run homer by Moore in the fifth, and then a two RBI single by Galaviz and an RBI single from McCracken in the sixth capped the scoring for the Conqs to earn a 10-2 win in six innings.
Avery McCloskey was great in the circle, earning her 11th win of the season, pitching six innings, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks, while striking out two.
Eight different Conqs recorded a hit in the win, led by a 2-4 outing by Galaviz, who had two runs scored and two RBI. McCracken added a 2-3 game with a triple, a run scored, three RBI, and a walk.
