WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Softball Falcons salvaged a split of a doubleheader today (Feb. 14) with a 13-6 victory over the Newman University Jets in the second game today (Feb. 14) at Two Rivers Youth Complex. The Falcons fell in the opening tilt 10-6.
Riley Wertz got the Falcons off to a strong start in the nightcap by smacking her first career homer, a three-run blast in the top of the first inning.
The Jets answered right back with a four-run bottom of the first and then another tally in the second to take a two-run lead, but an RBI single from Carolyn Dallimore started a two-run third to tie the score.
Priscila Mora then singled home Fallyn Marshall in the fourth to put the Falcons on top before scoring on a double by Becca Dunn. A two-run double by Jayden Estabrook finished a four-run fourth frame and solo homers from Dallimore in the fifth and Makenna Mitchell in the seventh put it away for Friends.
Three hits by Mora, Wertz and Dunn powered the Falcons' 16-hit attack. Mitchell and Dallimore each produced two hits and Estabrook drove in three runs overall.
Entering the game in a 5-5 gridlock, Kierstan Weitze pitched five innings of relief and gave up just one run to allow the Falcons to charge back and pick up her first career victory.
Lauren Kwak went 3-of-3 with a run scored for the Jets in the second game.
Wertz also had three hits for the Falcons (4-2) in the opening tilt, including an infield RBI single in the third that helped Friends take a 5-3 lead.
But Kwak promptly hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning to spark five unanswered tallies for the Jets. After the Falcons scored in the sixth to make it an 8-6 game, Kwak singled home another run in a two-run sixth to give the Newman the four-run win.
Friends got two hits apiece from Marshall, Dallimore and Vanessa Sigala, while Kwak went 3-of-4 and drove in six runs for the Jets.
Due to inclement weather expected on Friday (Feb. 16), the Falcons will now host No. 9-ranked Oklahoma City University next Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 21) starting at 2 pm at Two Rivers Youth Complex.
