Conway, Ark 2/18/2024- The Westminster College Blue Jays Softball team traveled to non-conference opponent, Hendrix College for a back-to-back doubleheader against Hendrix College and College of the Ozarks (Ark.).
Game 1 vs. Hendrix College- Box Score
After the Blue Jays gave up 3 runs in the first inning, they came back in the top of the 2nd and scored two of the three runs they would score in the game. Junior Tatum Bradshaw singled to third base on a SAC bunt, scoring Senior Haylee Chandler on a throwing error by the third baseman. Junior Kendall Weber stepped up to the plate and put the ball in play to score Freshman Ellie Bedsworth from third base. As the game went on, the Blue Jays' defense could not stop the strong offense that the Warriors brought, giving up 8 unanswered runs until the 5th inning. In the 5th inning, sophomore Madelynn Kordik got hit by a pitch and started the rally. Chandler stepped up to the plate and hit one down the left field line to advance Kordik to third. Bedsworth kept her hitting alive and scored the last run by beating out the throw from the shortstop. Starting pitcher for the Blue Jays, sophomore Payton Dudenhoeffer pitched 2.2 innings facing 20 batters and struck out 1. Coming in to relieve Dudenhoeffer; fellow sophomore Caroline Bentley (Bakersfield, Mo/ Bakersfield) pitched 1.1 innings facing 8 batters and struck out 1.
Game 2 vs. Hendrix College- Box Score
The Blue Jays offense struggled in game 2, getting only 2 hits. Freshman Bedsworth kept her hitting alive and went 1 for 1 with a walk. Sophomore shortstop Felicity Kirby also went 1 for 1 with a walk. Pitching for the Blue Jays, Bedsworth, playing offensively and defensively, faced 10 batters, striking out 1 batter and giving up 5 hits. To relieve Bedsworth is Junior Haley Miller. Miller went 1.1 innings facing 13 batters striking out 2 of them and only gave up 3 hits. To close the game off Bentley came back in to finish the game going 2 inning facing batters and struck out 1.
Game 3 vs. Ozarks (Ark.)- Box Score
The Blue Jays went down early as the Eagles played small ball to score two runs in the first. At the top of the second for the Blue Jays, the bats came alive where they scored the 3 runs of the game. Starting with a double from Senior Chandler. The very next batter Dudenhoeffer scored Chandler with a single. Dudenhoeffer also got a stolen base during Senior third baseman Kelsey Logan's at bat. With a runner on third and second. Senior Maddie Marrero stepped up by beating out the throw from the pitcher and scoring both runners. On the rubber for the Blue Jays, Miller started the game going 4 innings facing 24 batters and striking out 1. Coming in to relieve Miller is Dudenhoeffer.
Game 4 vs. Ozarks (Ark.)- Box Score
Bats started on fire for the Blue Jays in game 4. Bases got loaded for Junior Catcher Raigan McKee puts the ball in play to move the runners, scoring Senior Emily Esquivel getting herself an RBI. Senior Chandler steps up and does the same, scoring Logan from third base. Bradshaw stepped up, singled to left with 2 out to keep the inning alive, scoring freshman Bedsworth. In the second inning, Logan drove the ball to the fence and got a triple, scoring fellow senior Esquivel. Bedsworth stepped to the plate and hit a single to score Logan from third. Lastly, McKee hit a double to left field that ended up scoring Bedsworth from first base.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Tuesday, February 20th, when they host Lincoln University for their home opener. The game times are scheduled for 2:00 and 4:00 PM.
