HESSTON — Early deficits proved too much to overcome for Allen Community College’s softball team Monday.
The Red Devils fell behind 7-0 in their opener against Hesston in a 12-4 loss, before seeing themselves staring at a 5-1 deficit in the nightcap. A late rally was not enough in that game in an 8-7 defeat.
The twin bill comes as Allen is in the midst of its busiest stretch of the season, with 12 games in 10 days following a three-week COVID-19 layoff.
A three-run home run was the big blow in Hesston’s seven-run first inning to start the action.
Mikayla Long’s RBI double drove in Aubrey Willis for Allen’s first run in the top of the third, Andrea Wilson added an RBI double in the fifth to drive in Willis for the second run. She and Long came around to score on Tiara Mauler’s two-run double later in the frame to pull ACC to within 10-4.
But that was as close as the Red Devils could get.
Kaylee Cornell lasted two-thirds of an inning, giving up seven hits to take the loss. She struck out one batter. Wilson came on in relief and gave up five hits in four innings with five strikeouts. Mauler, Long and Wilson had doubles. Hailee Lundine and Bella Gravatt added singles.
ALLEN trailed 5-1 after two innings and 8-3 after six before erupting for four in the top of the seventh.
Wilson had an RBI single before Lundine doubled to drive in another run. Gravatt’s single closed the gap to 8-6, and Kinsey Stuewe’s RBI grounder had ACC knocking on the door of a tie game.
Trista Argabright worked a full count, but struck out to end the game with the tying run on second base.
After falling behind 2-0, Stuewe doubled with one out in the top of the second. She came around to score on an error.
Alayna Brown reached on an error to start the third. She scored on a sac fly from Long to cut Hesston’s lead to 5-2.
Wilson doubled and scored on Long’s RBI single in the top of the fifth, slicing the deficit to 5-3, Hesston responded with two runs in its half of the frame and another in the sixth for an 8-3 lead.
Cynae Wiley took the loss. She surrendered 12 hits in six innings with three strikeouts.
Wilson went 3-for-4 with a double, while Lundine doubled twice. Gravatt singled twice, Stuewe had a double, and Willis notched a single.
Allen hits the road once again Wednesday with a doubleheader at Kansas City.
