WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons couldn't script a better way to enter the KCAC postseason tournament next week by knocking off the Avila University Eagles 8-0 and then 5-3 for their fifth consecutive KCAC series sweep and 11th straight win overall today (Apr. 23) at Two Rivers Youth Complex. The two victories are massive for the Falcons, who now move into sole possession of third place in the KCAC with a 19-7 conference record.
Following a scoreless first two innings in the opener, Fallyn Marshall singled up the middle and Carolyn Dallimore put down a perfect bunt single to set the table for a big frame.
Becca Dunn came through to plate both Marshall and Dallimore with a single and then scored herself on a double from Vanessa Sigala.
Riley Wertz then singled in Sigala before scoring the fifth run of the inning to put the Falcons in command.
The Falcons continued to stretch out the lead and got an RBI single by Laila Spracklen along with a two-run double by Sigala to create a run-rule situation.
Wertz made the run-rule lead stand, holding the Eagles hitless through the first 4.1 innings and striking out the final two batters to strand two runners in the fifth. She struck out four and walked two in picking up her 14th victory of the season.
Dunn, Sigala and Priscilla Mora each drove in a pair of runs in the Falcons' first game romp of the Eagles.
The Falcons again jumped out to an early lead in the nightcap with RBI singles from Dunn and Wertz in the first inning, but nine stranded runners through the first four innings allowed Avila to stay in the game.
The Eagles took advantage and momentarily took a one-run lead on a three-run, two-out, pinch-hit homer by Montana Stangel in the fifth inning.
But Friends immediately responded behind clutch hits from Makenna Mitchell and Marshall. Mitchell singled home Sigala to tie the score before scoring along with pinch runner Elena Montoya on a go-ahead single from Marshall.
Spracklen then locked in and struck out the side in the seventh to emphatically finish out the sweep.
"We felt very prepared and stuck to our game plan the whole time!" said Friends softball head coach Suzanne Unruh. "Riley and Laila are throwing so well right now! I'm proud of our lineup stringing the hits together too, not always relying on the long ball, which we do well, but the timely hits are coming in clutch for us!"
Sigala and Wertz each went 2-of-4 in the nightcap for the Falcons (31-15, 19-7 KCAC), with Marshall finishing with two RBIs.
Spracklen struck out six batters and walked just one, with the lone blemish being the three-run home run by Stangel that resulted in three unearned runs.
Chelsea Kurtz had two hits in the second game for Avila, who falls to fifth in the KCAC at 17-9 in the league.
The Falcons are next tentatively scheduled to host Missouri Baptist on Friday (Apr. 26) at 3 pm, but those games are weather permitting. The KCAC tournament is scheduled for next week (May 1-3) in Great Bend, Kan.
