The Charger softball team swept Hastings Saturday afternoon, taking game one 3-2, followed by a 13-3 victory in game two. Georgia Krohn went 3-for-7 on the day with two home runs and three RBIs.
"I am so proud of the girls and how they came out fighting," said head coach Erin Bly. "Offensively they kept adjusting and found a way to produce when we needed. Georgia Krohn came up big for us at the plate in game one, and Aubrey Chichurka was absolutely clutch game two. Overall they are playing incredible defense and are finding a way to score against tough GPAC pitchers. The girls have found their rhythm on the mound and are making the adjustments we need to stay in the game."
Game 1 – W, 3-2
BC struck first in the top of the second inning, as Kennedy Andersen reached first base after an error by the Broncos, allowing Callie Billings to cross home plate.
In the top of the third, Aubrey Chichurka put the Chargers in scoring position by hitting a double. With two outs, Krohn hit an RBI double to drive in Chichurka and extended the lead to 2-0.
Krohn led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead. The Broncos responded in the bottom of the inning with a RBI single from Ana Krueger to trail 3-1 heading into the final inning.
The Broncos looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Elana Gerhard's RBI single cut the lead 3-2 with one out. Mackenna Raby was called in from the Chargers bullpen and retired the next two batters as the Cliff held onto a 3-2 victory.
Kayla Guerrero earned the win, pitching 5.1 innings with 2 K's and one earned run. Krohn went 2-for-3 in the contest with two RBIs. Jessica James, Karina Cupples, and Billings each tallied a hit in the contest.
Game 2 – W, 13-3
The Chargers kicked off the scoring in the top of the first, as Kylee Lukes hit a RBI double to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead. Krohn led off the top of the second with her second homer of the day as the Cliff extended their lead to 2-0.
In the top of the third, Lukes pushed the Chargers lead to 3-0 after her RBI single drove in Josie Chronic. In the bottom of the inning, Hastings scored off Julia Reimer's sacrifice ground out, and Mattie Hogrefe's RBI single to trail 3-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Charger bats caught fire, scoring five runs on four hits. With two outs and the bases loaded, Chronic drew a walk, allowing Billings to score and extended the lead to 4-2. Chichurka in the next at-bat hit a three-RBI double to give BC a 7-3 lead. Lukes capped the scoring in the half-inning with an RBI single and the Chargers led 8-3.
The Charger offense stayed hot in the top of the seventh, as Andersen's RBI double gave the Chargers a six-run edge. Cupples' RBI single, followed by Chichurka's three-run homer, gave BC a 13-3 lead. Hastings looked to rally back, by starting the bottom of the inning with a Reimer double. Morgan Jones closed the game out for BC, forcing a groundout and striking out the last two batters as BC took game two 13-3.
Jones took the win in the pitchers circle, going 2.2 innings and giving up zero runs. Chichurka went 3-for-5 at the plate with six RBIs. Lukes went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Cupples went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Chronic and Andersen scored three and two runs, respectively.
The Chargers improve to 13-8 overall (3-1 GPAC) and return to action against Doane on Saturday at Bishop Mueller Field. First pitch for game one is set for 1:00PM with game two to follow shortly after.
#BattleOn
