Dodge City softball closed out the regular season at home, splitting a doubleheader with the Colby Trojans, taking game one 12-2 in five innings before falling 4-1 in game two.
The split moved the Conquistadors to 42-16 on the season, tying the team for the most wins in a season in program history with the 1999 team. The Conqs also finished third in the KJCCC, marking their best finish in the conference since 2005, finishing with a 24-8 conference record.
The Conqs now turn their focus to the Region 6 Tournament, which will take place May 8th-11th at Legends Park in Dodge City, Kansas. The Conqs will be the third seed in the tournament and take on Garden City in the first round at 2:00 pm on Friday, May 8th, to open the tournament, then will play again at 6:00 pm the same day, as the tournament is double-elimination.
Game 1 – Won 12-2 vs Colby (5 innings)
Colby, who struggled to get going against the Conqs on Friday at their place, recorded a pair of early hits in game one and scored both runners after an error by the Conqs, giving the Trojans an early 2-0 lead. The Conqs had a big answer in the bottom of the first by batting all the way through the lineup and scoring 10 runs (the most in an inning this season in a conference). After three straight walks to open the bottom of the first,
Riley Moore drove in the first run with an RBI single, what followed next was three straight doubles to score four more runs as
Loren Sweat,
Kloe Nelson, and
Jordyn Boxberger each hit a double. Later in the first,
Karen Galaviz, who scored the first run of the inning, belted a three-run homer, and after the first, the Conqs led 10-2. The Conqs added two more runs in the second while Colby managed only three more base runners as the Conqs cruised to the 12-2 win in five innings.
Karli George earned her 19th win in the circle, tossing three innings, giving up two unearned runs on three hits and no walks, while striking out five.
Shyann Clark tossed two scoreless innings of relief, giving up just two hits.
Boxberger, Nelson, and
Avery McCloskey each had a multi-hit game in the win. It was 2-3 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a double performance for Boxberger, while Nelson was 2-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and two doubles. McCloskey went 2-2 at the plate with an RBI, a double, and a walk.
Game 2 – Lost 4-1 vs Colby
In the second game of the day, the bats were quiet for the Conqs, but despite only having two hits, the Conqs had opportunities to score. Colby grabbed the lead with a run in the third and then got three more runs with two outs in the fifth inning to lead 4-0. After leaving the bases loaded in the first and second innings without getting a run, the Conqs worked the bases loaded again in the sixth, and
Sophie Faidley drew a walk to bring in a run. The Conqs, however, only got one run in the sixth after a tough call at first base for the final out of the inning. In the seventh, the Conqs got a leadoff walk but would be unable to score, falling 4-1.
On the circle, McCloskey threw 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and no walks, while
Shyann Clark tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Harley Shoaf and Moore each recorded a hit as the Conqs only had two hits in the contest, while Galaviz had two walks, and
Cadie McCracken drew two walks and was hit by a pitch. Moore scored the lone run of the game to give her 112 runs scored in her career, breaking the school record.
