Lindsborg, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons fell in two games by a combined three runs at the Bethany College Swedes today (Mar. 23) in Lindsborg, Kan.
The opening game saw the Falcons fall by a 4-2 count as the Swedes opened up a four-run lead and held on.
After an infield RBI single by Brianna Buck in the fourth inning and another run-scoring single from Tamia Butler in the fifth made it 4-0, Priscilla Mora singled in Elena Montoya and then scored on a double by Becca Dunn to cut the lead in half in the sixth.
But Dylann Baker preserved the lead for the Swedes, finishing with five strikeouts and two runs allowed in the win.
Riley Wertz started the opening game for the Falcons and allowed one earned run with four strikeouts and three walks. Laila Spracklen then closed out the game with one strikeout, six walks and one earned run allowed in the final three innings.
The Swedes then walked off in the nightcap 6-5, getting a sacrifice fly from Shantell Evans in the bottom of the eighth for the winning run.
In the top of the eighth, Morgan Pennycuff struck out two to strand the international tiebreaker run at second base.
Friends trailed early and late, but used the long ball each time to rally and make things interesting.
Down 2-0 in the fourth, solo homers by Becca Dunn and Priscilla Mora tied the score.
The Falcons then grabbed the lead in the fifth on an RBI double by Carolyn Dallimore, but Melinda Cratty singled in the tying run in the bottom of the fifth before run-scoring singles from Katherine Range and Allison Rosa in the sixth put Bethany back in front.
But Mora wouldn't let the Falcons go quietly and launched her second homer of the game in the seventh, a two-run blast that scored Fallyn Marshall to tie the score again at 5-5.
Dunn was 3-of-4 for the Falcons (16-12, 4-4 KCAC) and Marshall went 2-of-4 with two runs scored in the second game.
Kierstan Weitze was the Falcon nightcap starter and lasted 4.1 innings, surrendering three earned runs and striking out one. Wertz followed and went the final three innings with two runs allowed and a pair of strikeouts.
Evans went 2-of-2 in the second game for Bethany (10-12, 3-5 KCAC).
The Falcons will next play at KCAC newcomer Evangel University Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 26) at 2 pm in Springfield, Mo. before returning home to face York University Saturday (Mar. 30) at 1 pm at Two Rivers Youth Complex.
