Culver-Stockton hands Comets first losses of the softball season

After getting off to the best start in program history, the Cottey College softball team found out over the weekend — courtesy of the Culver-Stockton College Lady Wildcats — that you can't win 'em all.

But at least you still have Lacey Cruz.

The sophomore pitcher continued her dominant start to the season with a pair of shutout victories over Culver-Stockton, first with a 6-0 win on Saturday, then an 8-0 W on Sunday.

Cruz (5-0) gave up six hits in the first game but struck out nine to keep the Lady Wildcats from crossing home plate.

She was helped on offense by sophomore Lauren Johnson's three-hit, two-RBI performance and sophomore Caitlyn Morgan's solo home run and two RBIs.

The next day, Cruz struck out 10 Culver-Stockton batters and helped her own cause by driving in two runs with her bat.

The rest of the Comets belted three homers, including a solo shot in the third inning by senior Katie Fernandez, before sophomores Aryana Palencia and Kristen Hurst hit back-to-back jacks in the fourth. Morgan added two more hits, including a double, and scored two runs.

The Lady Wildcats needed extra innings in the nightcap on Saturday to hand the Comets their first loss of the season, 8-6.

After jumping out to a 6-0 lead thanks to a grand slam and another dinger, Culver-Stockton watched as Fernandez hit a solo shot of her own in the fifth inning. Cottey rallied even bigger in the seventh inning, when sophomore Karina Ramirez plated a run on a fielder's choice and Johnson tied the game with a grand slam over the centerfield fence.

Unfortunately for the Comets, their scoring threats the rest of the way failed to produce any more runs, while the Lady Wildcats plated two in the top of the ninth to claim their first win of the season.

Culver-Stockton picked up win No. 2 with a 13-11 victory in the nightcap Sunday.

After only committing one error in its first 10 games, Cottey's defense struggled early in this game, committing three errors in the first two innings to give the Lady Wildcats a 7-3 head start.

Morgan helped make up for the errors with two 3-run homers. She finished 3-for-3 at the dish with a walk.

Freshman Elizabeth Thomas and junior Diona Perkins each added home runs before Ramirez drew Cottey closer with a two-run double in the seventh.

The Comets had the tying run on second base, but failed to score her.

Hurst, senior Kirsten Wallace, and sophomore Alyssa Montoya handled pitching duties, scattering 13 hits and striking out nine.

Cottey (12-2) will next compete in the McPherson Tournament on Friday and Saturday.