Haskell Indian Nations University defeated Kansas Christian College twice in this latest series at home. This is the first time Haskell has won a home series on the new field, and the first time this season it has won back-to-back games. They won the first game 5-4 and the second game 7-5 to improve to 6-24 on the year.
The first game started off slow with the first run coming in the bottom of the second inning with Paizley Aldrich laying down a sacrifice bunt to score Maeshayla Tye to make it 1-0. KCC would immediately respond with two runs in the next inning and would further add one in the fourth and fifth, making it 1-4. Haskell would respond in the bottom of the fifth off a new pitcher, with Abrianna Herrera getting a double that scored Ariana Munoz and Mariah Graves, making it a one-run game at 3-4.
In the top of the sixth inning, Haskell would get its very first double play on its new field to sit KCC down. Haskell would then score two runs off a Grace Greenwood line drive, getting Chasely Roberts and Aldrich home, taking the lead. KCC would go three up, three down in the seventh thanks to Graves securing Haskell its first win on the day 5-4, with her pitching.
KCC would start off the next game scoring two runs, putting Haskell in a hole early. Haskell would quickly get out of the hole with Abrielle Herrera getting Greenwood in, Roberts getting Graves in off an infield fly, and finally Aldrich getting both Abrianna Herrera and Abrielle Herrera home, putting Haskell up 4-2. Neither team could get anything going in the second inning.
Haskell would once again get hot in the bottom of the third with Greenwood hitting a flyball to score Celia Farrow, Abrianna Herrera walking in Ariana Munoz, and for the last run, Haskell’s Abrielle Herrera got hit by a pitch to advance Greenwood home, cementing their 7-2 lead. KCC would try to claw its way back, getting a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, to no avail as Haskell would win 7-5. This was Farrow’s first win at home this season in the circle.
Pitching was a huge part of this home series, Head coach Jolona Shield-Dzakic said they are very intentional about the workloads for their two pitchers, Graves and Farrow.
“With our pitching staff, we are intentional about managing workloads and making sure they are getting proper recovery between outings. We also focus on preparation and communication so they feel confident and ready each time they step in the circle.”
