Kenny Hernandez

LIBERAL, Kan. – Seward County Community College splits their conference opener against Barton Community College with a victory 6-0 in game one, followed by a 3-2 loss in extra innings. The Saints are now 10-6 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. Seward County will travel to Dodge City Community College on Saturday, March 5th as conference play continues.

Game 1

The Saints jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning as Ellie Stember came across to score after a Cougar error. Gabrielle Sanchez hit an RBI single to left field that scored Beth Denney from third base. The Saints added one more run in the bottom of the third inning as Ashley Low hit an RBI single to left field that scored Shyanna Stopp. With a 3-0 lead. Seward County scored three more runs in the fifth inning as Tatum Winters hit an RBI single that scored Stopp. Sanchez and Winters came around to score off of errors by the Cougars.

Seward County took a 6-0 lead and kept the Cougars scoreless as the Saints won 6-0. The Cougars left 10 runners on base as the Saints defense kept them off of the scoreboard.

Ireland Caro pitched the entire seven innings and gave up zero runs on five hits. Caro improves to 3-1 on the season from the circle.

Seward County improved to 10-5 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

Game 2

Gabrielle Sanchez gave the Saints a 1-0 lead after the second inning with a solo home run to left field. Both teams went scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning as Elle Stember connected on a solo home run to give Seward County a 3-2 advantage.

In the seventh inning, the Cougars responded with two runs to tie the game at 2-2. Molly Adams came in for relief in the seventh inning for the starter Elle Stember and was able to close down the Cougars in the seventh inning.

The contest went into the extra inning and in the top of the eighth Barton scored one run to take an 8-7 advantage. The Saints looked to tie the game as Macy Spearman reached second base but BArton closed out the contest to hold off the Saints 3-2.

In Stember’s starting role she allowed two runs on five hits over six and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking one. Molly Adams threw one and one-third innings in relief for the Saints and received the loss from the circle.

The Saints fell to 10-6 on the season and 1-1 in conference action.

Seward County will travel to Dodge City on Saturday, March 5th to take on the Conquistadors at 1 PM.