Branson, Mo. – Behind a strong pitching performance and timely hitting, Friends University was victorious over Mount Marty 6-0 on Friday. The Falcons controlled the game from the start, using a combination of aggressive baserunning and timed hitting to take down the visiting Lancers.

Friends broke through in the fourth inning, capitalizing on opportunities to grab an early lead. Becca Dunn led the charge with two RBIs, while Riley Wertz also delivered a key two-run hit. Priscilla Mora and Cadence Magana chipped in with RBIs of their own, helping to extend the Falcons' lead.

Speed played a crucial role in Friends' offensive attack, with Elena Montoya, Izzy Jones (2), Keara Cunningham, and Magana all swiping bases to put pressure on Mount Marty's defense.

On the mound, the Falcons' Riley Wertz was stellar, with 13 strikeouts and holding the Lancers scoreless while limiting them to just a pair of hits.

Game 2 against Williams Baptist was a back-and-forth contest, Friends coming up short, falling 12-4 in a high-scoring matchup on Friday. Despite an early lead, the Falcons were unable to contain a potent Williams Baptist offense that produced 13 hits on the day. Friends opened the scoring in the first inning as Becca Dunn delivered an RBI to give the Falcons an early advantage. However, Williams Baptist responded quickly, putting up a run in the bottom half of the inning before adding a steady offensive throughout the game.

The Falcons saw contributions from multiple players at the plate. Alex Vick led the way with two doubles, driving in a run, while Teagan Moreno and Cadence Magana each added an RBI to the effort. Speed on the basepaths was a factor, as Elena Montoya and Tamara Lozoya each recorded a stolen base. Defensively, Friends faced a challenging Williams Baptist lineup that found gaps throughout the game. The home team was powered by multi-RBI performances from Hannah Stallings, Natalia Watkins, Ashlyn Michael, and Kaelyn Gooch. Watkins also added a key triple, helping Williams Baptist to extend their lead later in the game.

In the circle, Jenna Ormiston got the start for Friends, working through early traffic before handing things off to Makenna Gifford and Cadence Magana. The Falcons will continue tournament play on the road in Branson, Missouri, at the Branson Grand Slam Classic.