Larks take two from 'Hounds

Fort Scott second baseman Kalee Ewbank makes the throw to first for the second out of the third inning of Friday's second game against Hesston at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex. The visiting Larks swept the Greyhounds in Region VI Division II seeding games. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

Fort Scott Community College's softball team has been playing more competitively as of late. But that couldn't prevent a doubleheader sweep by Hesston Friday afternoon at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex in Region VI Division II seeding games.

Hesston (11-15 Region, 12-18 overall) won the opener 7-1, scoring 5 runs over the final three innings. The Larks took the second game 4-2.

Fort Scott fell to 2-22 in the Region and 5-38 overall. Since a sweep of Cottey on March 28, the Greyhounds have lost 14 straight games.

Hesston led the first game just 2-0 after three innings before putting up 2 in the fifth and the sixth and one in the seventh.

Fort Scott's only run came in the sixth inning. Stephanie Evans singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a passed ball. She moved up on one groundout and scored on another with Alex Yeoman getting the run batted in.

Hesston pitcher Miranda Follette held the Greyhounds to 3 hits. The others were by Christa Merriman and Bailey Sweetin. Follette (2-2) also surrendered just one walk while striking out 6.

Merriman (3-17) allowed 6 runs on 9 hits in 5 2/3 innings. She walked one and struck out 3.

Victoria Cortex was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI to lead the Larks at the plate.

The Greyhounds scored first in the second game. Akoda Black drew a walk and then scored all the way from first when the Larks committed a 2-base error on a Merriman grounder.

Hesston tied the score in the second when Ellise McGraw drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Lea Daniels' double. The Larks took the lead in the fifth when Kassee Tully hit a leadoff double off the center-field fence and scored on Tricia Ogle's single.

The Larks added two more in the top of the seventh to make it 4-1. The 'Hounds got one of those back in the bottom half. Merriman reached on an error. Paighton Brock hit a one-out double. Merriman scored on an error on the throw back home, which also allowed Brock to get to third.

Hesston pitcher Cheyenne Cherubini (5-0) struck out the next batter and then induced a line-drive out to the shortstop to end the game. Cherubini allowed no earned runs on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Brock and Kelsey Simons had those hits.

Simons (2-12) may have pitched one of her better games but still allowed 4 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2.

The Greyhounds will host Hutchinson this afternoon at Noon for a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex that also serves as Region VI seeding games. Monday, Maple Woods (Mo.) visits at 1 p.m. for a non-conference, non-region twinbill.

Wednesday: North Central Missouri 6-16, Fort Scott 2-5.

The Pirates, who play at the NJCAA Division I level, led 2-0 after four innings in a non-conference twinbill held at the BRWC. They added one in both the fifth and the sixth and 2 in the seventh. Fort Scott's only runs came in the bottom of the seventh on Sweetin's 2-RBI double.

The Greyhounds were held to 2 hits, the other by Evans. Merriman allowed 11 hits and one walk while striking out 5.

North Central scored 10 runs in the first three innings of the second game to take a 10-2 lead. The Pirates also scored a total of 6 runs over the final two innings.

Fort Scott had 9 hits with Lizzie Aller going 4 for 4 with a double, a triple and an RBI. She also scored 3 runs. Merriman was 2 for 4. Ewbank drove in 2 runs.

Randi Glover (0-8) took the loss, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits and a walks over the first 2 1/3 innings.

Wednesday's Games

Fort Scott........................... 000 000 2 -- 2 3 3

WP -- Hurley (8-5). LP -- Merriman (3-16).

HR -- NCMC: Hurley (4). Fort Scott: None.

Game Two

Fort Scott........................... 220 100 0 -- 5 9 3

WP -- Kinsey (3-3). LP -- Glover (0-8).

HR -- NCMC: Stock (8). Fort Scott: None.

Friday's Games

Fort Scott........................... 000 001 0 -- 1 3 1

WP -- Follette (2-2). LP -- Merriman (3-17).

HR -- None.

Game Two

Fort Scott........................... 100 000 1 -- 2 2 1

WP -- Cherubini (5-0). LP -- Simons (2-12).

HR -- None.