Softball | 2/13/2022 3:12:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
ALLEN, TX - Panhandle State softball (7-2) finished their NAIA Winter Invitational games on Sunday. Playing both the Tabor Bluejays and the Bethel Threshers. The Aggies ended the tournament with three wins and two losses. 

The Aggie had an early start against the Bluejays but that did not keep them from battling out a win in the end. The bats would stay alive in the second game of the day against the Threshers. Sparking an eleven-run fifth to walk off the final game of the invitational.

After a late-night win against the McPherson Bulldogs, the Aggies took that momentum into their game against the Bluejays. Throwing up three runs in the first inning to give themselves an early lead. A lead that would not last as the Bluejays answered right back. A back and forth game for the Aggies and Bluejays but the Aggies would come up with some big plays to end the threat of the Bluejays.

The Bethel Threshers would open up the Aggies' second game of the day with a three-run lead. However, the Aggie hitters would not allow the Threshers to run away with the game. An offense that showed patience and dangerous intent at the plate against the Threshers. Totaling seven walks and nine hits. Five of said hits were extra-base hits. The Aggies would come from behind to walk-off run-rule the Bethel Threshers 4-12 in five innings. 

Game 1 

The Aggies were riding high coming into their game against the Bluejays after their 8-6 victory over the Bulldogs the night before. Leading to another loud game for the Aggie bats as they knocked around the Bluejays' pitchers for fourteen hits and eight runs. The Aggies got on the board early. Putting up three runs off a Haley Saur inside-the-park home run and a bases-clearing two-run double from senior Kayli Grove. 

Sarah Conley would notch the start against the Bluejays. Despite the early runs that the Bluejays threw up on the board, Conley was efficient in her outing. Going a full four innings for the Aggies with four strikeouts. Conley would make way for Isabel Ray in the top half of the fifth. 

Ray would not last long for the Aggies as the Bluejays had her number for the day. Ray would surrender three runs to the Bluejays allowing them to take the lead in the inning. Rylin Baker would make her entrance and try to stop the bleeding early. Baker would do just that, making quick outs of the next two Tabor hitters. She would only give up two hits in her one and two-thirds innings of work before Conley reentered in the top of the seventh for the save. 

The Aggies saw some late-game theatrics at the plate and also in the field. On offense, the Aggies would put up four runs in the last three innings of the game allowing them to take the lead. On defense, a double-play ball ended the Tabor threat in the top of the sixth followed by catcher Kaitlyn Lord throwing out a Bluejay trying to steal second. A complete game for all three facets of the Aggie team. 

Another highlight game from senior outfielder Kayli Grove as she would notch another multi-hit game on the season with a three-for-four performance. Although Grove's bat has been hot since the beginning of the season, other Aggies are beginning to feed off her success. Brielee Daniell, Haley Saur, and Kaitlyn Lord would also have a multi-hit game against the Bluejays. The four combined for eleven of the Aggies' fourteen hits, and five of their eight runs. 

Game 2

Panhandle State softball entered their last game of the NAIA Winter Invitational sitting at two wins and two losses as they look to play Bethel College (KS.). A team that the Aggies have split their lifetime series with and their last series coming in 2020. A game that saw pitcher Sarah Conley throw a complete game in the Aggies 4-2 win. 

Kenley Yocom would designate the start for the Aggies against the Threshers. Yocom would get knocked around in the first inning but would settle down later going three and a third innings. The Aggie defense held up behind Yocom. Yocom would make way for Rylin Baker as she would make her second appearance on the day. 

Baker (3-0) would finish out the game for the Aggies earning her second win of the day. Throwing one and a third innings in the game. Baker would keep the Threshers off balance as she only surrendered one hit in her outing. 

The Aggie offense called the game in the bottom of the fifth innings as eleven batters crossed home plate in the inning. An inning that saw the Aggie lineup nearly bat around twice. Yaya Jones would lead off the inning with a single of her own which led to twelve consecutive Aggie baserunners. Jones would follow up with a three-run home run in the inning to give the Aggies a 4-11 lead. The Aggies hitters continued to see the ball well at the plate and draw walks in the inning. Eventually walking off the Threshers off a Thresher error. 

Yaya Jones drew the spotlight in the Aggies' second game of the day. Going a perfect three for three in the game. Accumulating three runs, three hits, and three RBIs in the contest. Jones would not be the only Aggie to see a multi-hit game against the Threshers as Brielee Daniell would also tally two hits of her own in the 4-12 win. 

Panhandle State softball competes in their second consecutive tournament of the year as they head to Chickasha, Oklahoma for a four-game slate.