Comets dispatch East Central, stretch win streak to 13
UNION, Mo. — Since dropping their first two games of the season in early February, the Cottey Comets have been on a tear — as Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of East Central College extended Cottey softball’s school-record win streak to 13 games.
Cottey (13-2) powered past East Central in the opener, 15-12, and then prevailed in the nightcap, 5-4.
“These were two incredibly hard fought games,” said Comets second-year head coach, Mark Skapin. “I can’t say enough about the heart and determination that the team displayed today.”
In the opening game of the NJCAA Region 16 twinbill, Cottey sophomore slugger Hannah Bridges mashed a pair of home runs and drove in six. Bridges concluded 3-for-5 a the plate, as the Portland, Oregon native’s seventh inning three-run blast, put the Comets over the top.
Aiding her own cause, Cottey freshman ace Kirsten Wallace clubbed her first career collegiate round-tripper. Additionally for Cottey, Arizona native Katie Fernandez blasted a pair of home runs, while Staley H.S. (KC) product Lindsey Boord chipped in a solo shot.
“We didn’t play well enough to win in game one,” said Skapin, adding, “when things aren’t going perfectly, we keep finding ways to out-slug our opponents. If (we) want to continue this, we will have to clean things up and play a more complete game.”
In the circle for Cottey, Wallace worked around major trouble for the majority of the afternoon. Wallace, who hails from White Hall, Arkansas, picked up the victory to up her record to 6-1. “Kirsten pitched around an unsightly nine errors,” noted Skapin of the Comets defensive woes.
In the nightcap, California native Alexis Riley Cello’s fifth-inning solo blast propelled Cottey to the 5-4 victory.
Meanwhile, Cottey freshman pitcher and Wheaton, Missouri native Emily Killion, spun a nine strikeout gem. Jackie Nix led the offensive charge for Cottey, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a pair of RBI, while sophomore outfielder Rayne Wright finished 2-for-2 with a fourth inning RBI single. See a future edition of the Daily Mail for all the latest on Cottey Comet softball