KWU Softball splits Opening Day games with (10) Midland & Dordt

Kansas Wesleyan Softball split the first two contests of the 2024 season on Friday at the American State Bank Classic hosted by Dordt University inside the ASB Dome. The Coyotes dropped their first game to No. 10 ranked Midland 4-1, and beat Dordt 3-1.
 
Against 10^th ranked Midland, the Coyotes fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when the Warriors led off the inning with three straight hits and then a walk to bring in the run.
 
The Coyotes tied it back up in the top of the third. Lisandra Andrade walked and later went to second on Josie Buhr's sacrifice, then scored on Sydnee Fordham's single to right field to tie things up 1-1.
 
Wesleyan got out of danger in the bottom of the inning getting Midland to leave the bases loaded.
 
The Warriors took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a run and added two more in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a KWU error to open the inning, scoring two unearned runs to extend the lead to 4-1.
 
Fordham and Eliza Flores had Wesleyan's two hits in the game. Starting pitcher Caitlyn Collier went three and a third innings, allowing a run on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Miranda Fogal took the loss, allowing three runs, only one earned, in two and two-thirds innings with two strikeouts.
 
In the Dordt game, the Coyotes were the batting second team against the host Defenders, and got two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead and hold on for the win.
 
Dordt jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning with a leadoff homer, but the Coyotes tied it up in the bottom of the second.
 
Trenity Miller led off the frame with a double, and went to third on a ground out by Alcala. Keira Hammen walked and pinch runner Ollevia Lowe stole second base, but a throwing error allowed Miller to score to tie things up.
 
The Coyotes averted danger in the fifth as Dordt loaded the bases, but an infield fly and then a double play on a fly ball to the outfield as Buhr threw out a runner at home trying to score.
 
Wesleyan grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Fordham singled, and two batters later Miller followed with a single. Alcala stepped up and singled to center which allowed the two go-ahead runs to score.
 
Miller had two of KWU's five hits in the game. Hailey Asbury got the win in relief allowing just one hit over the final four innings. Jewell Henry went the first four innings, allowing one run on four hits.
 
The Coyotes are back in action Saturday morning, as KWU faces No. 15 Northwestern at 10 a.m., and then wraps up the Classic at Noon against Doane.