Softball Splits KJCCC Doubleheader with Hutchinson in Tight Contests

COLBY, Kan. - The Colby Trojans softball team battled Hutchinson in a tightly contested KJCCC doubleheader Saturday (March 14) at Carl Adams Softball Field, with the two teams splitting a pair of close games. Hutchinson edged the Trojans 5–4 in eight innings in the opener before Colby responded with a resilient comeback to take the second game 7–6. 

Game 1

A late run proved to be the difference Saturday as the Colby Community College softball team fell 5–4 in eight innings to Hutchinson Community College in the opening game of a conference doubleheader.

The Trojans jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. With a runner on, Briley Christensen launched a two-run home run to center field to give Colby a quick 2–0 advantage.

Hutchinson responded in the third inning with a big offensive frame. The Blue Dragons plated four runs to take a 4–2 lead, highlighted by a three-run triple from Kaibryn Kruger and an RBI double by Reese Goetz.

Colby chipped away to tie the game over the next few innings. The Trojans added a run in the third before leveling the score in the sixth inning when Kylan Sorenson delivered an RBI single to center field, making it 4–4 and setting up a tight finish.

After both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, Hutchinson broke through in the eighth inning. Emery Benson-Hladik delivered a clutch RBI single to score the go-ahead run, putting the Blue Dragons ahead 5–4.

Christensen led the Trojan offense with two RBIs while going 1-for-2 at the plate and drawing two walks. Bailey Jackson paced the lineup with two hits in three at-bats, while Dayana Miller, Olivia Wirth, Ava Pezely, and Sorenson each added a hit.

In the circle, Katelyn Zukewich went the distance for Colby, tossing all eight innings while allowing five runs on 12 hits with two strikeouts including six total scoreless frames.

Hutchinson's Jessica Schmidt earned the win in relief after pitching 4.1 innings and allowing one run on three hits. The Blue Dragons collected 12 hits in the game, led by Addi Lutz who finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while Tailor Golly and Gabby Stauffer each recorded multiple hits.

With the loss, the Trojans dropped the opener of the conference doubleheader as the two teams prepared to face off again later in the afternoon in Colby.

Game 2 

The Colby Trojans bounced back in game two of Saturday's conference doubleheader, rallying from an early deficit to defeat Hutchinson 7–6.

Hutchinson struck first in the second inning, scoring four runs to take early control. Riley Dreher started the rally with a two-run double before Addi Lutz added an RBI single and Leyla O'Connor followed with another run-scoring hit to make it 4–0.

Colby answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. The Trojans plated three runs to cut the deficit to one, highlighted by RBI hits from Olivia Wirth, Bailey Jackson, and Ella McDonald.

The Trojans took their first lead in the fourth inning when Brooke Zinken launched a two-run home run to left field, giving Colby a 5–4 advantage.

Colby extended the lead in the fifth inning, scoring two more runs to make it 7–4. Brooklynn Ekker delivered a key RBI triple in the inning, while the Trojans continued to apply pressure at the plate.

Hutchinson battled back in the sixth inning when Tailor Golly connected on a two-run home run to trim the deficit to one, but the Trojans held firm in the final inning to seal the victory.

Cheyenne Cramer earned the win in the circle for Colby, pitching all seven innings. The sophomore allowed six runs, four earned, on eight hits while striking out two and walking six.

Offensively, Colby collected 10 hits in the victory. Bailey Jackson led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate while scoring two runs. Kylan Sorenson added two hits and two runs scored, while Olivia Wirth also recorded two hits. Zinken and Ekker each drove in two runs for the Trojans.

Hutchinson also finished with 10 hits, led by Dreher and O'Connor who each recorded three hits. Golly added two RBIs with her sixth-inning home run.

Colby now sits at 11–9 overall (6–2 KJCCC), matching Hutchinson's conference mark as the two teams split the Saturday doubleheader. The split keeps the Trojans firmly in the mix near the top of the conference standings as the season continues. After battling through two tightly contested games, including a comeback victory in the nightcap, Colby will look to build on that momentum as they have two non-conference match-ups on Monday (March 16) and Tuesday (March 17).