Hounds drop 3 in conference

Fort Scott Community College softball split a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader with Allen Tuesday but was swept by Independence on Thursday to end the regular season. Both doubleheaders were played at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex.

The Greyhounds won Tuesday's opener, 8-0, but Allen picked up just its second victory of the season in the nightcap, 11-1.

Lizzie Aller and Christa Merriman each had 2 hits in the opener. Payton Hays drove in 2 runs.

Merriman allowed just 2 hits and didn't walk anyone while striking out 4. She was staked to a 3-0 lead after one inning and a 5-0 lead after three.

Allen pitcher Marissa Luna (1-5) held Fort Scott to 3 hits in the second game, one each by Aller, Hays and Bailey Seetin. The Red Devils scored in each inning but the fifth.

Allen, which broke a 17-game losing streak in the nightcap finished last in the East at 1-25 and last in the Region at 1-29. The Red Devils swept Maple Woods Thursday, 8-2 and 13-3 to finish the regular season 4-38.

Independence run-ruled Fort Scott in both of Thursday's games, 9-1 in the opener and 9-0 in the nightcap. Fort Scott had just 3 hits in the first game, 2 by Kalee Ewbank and one by Lizzie Aller, the top two batters in the order.

Fort Scott had only one hit in the second game, which was collected by Samantha Bennett.

The Greyhounds will be at home Tuesday against the Central Methodist University JV to close out the regular season. Make-up games scheduled for Monday against the Missouri Valley College JV have been canceled.

Fort Scott finished 4-22 in the East and 4-26 in the Region, both only one spot ahead of Allen. The 'Hounds are 7-42 overall going into Tuesday's games. Independence finished third in the division at 19-7 and third in the region at 23-7.

As Thursday was the final day of conference/region play, the seedings for the two postseason tournaments are set. Region VI Division II is split into two Districts, which play separate tournaments. Both tournament champions qualify for the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Both tournaments begin the weekend of April 26 and 27 with first-round best-of-three series at the home field of the higher-seeded team. The tournaments continue the weekend of May 3-4 with double-elimination play at Topeka.

Fort Scott, as the 15th-seeded team, is in the District E Tournament with No. 2 Highland, No. 3 Indy, No. 6 Cloud County, No. 7 Kansas City, No. 10 Neosho County, No. 11 Hutchinson and No. 14 Pratt.

Fort Scott will face Highland (34-8) in the first round. Neosho County (18-25) takes on Kansas City (29-13), Pratt (11-35) takes on Independence (38-14) and Hutchinson (15-23) will face Cloud County. The Greyhounds have wins over Pratt, Neosho County and Hutchinson this season.

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Tuesday's Games

Game One

Allen......... 000 00x x -- 0 2 2

Fort Scott......... 302 03x x -- 8 10 2

WP -- Merriman (5-17). LP -- Luna (0-5).

HR -- None.

Game Two

Allen........ 221 20x x -- 11 14 0

Fort Scott......... 010 000 x -- 1 3 6

WP -- Glover (0-10). LP -- Luna (1-5).

HR -- None.

Thursday's Games

Game One

Independence........ 140 40x x -- 9 10 x

Fort Scott.......... 100 00x x -- 1 3 3

WP -- Merriman (5-18). LP -- n/a.

HR -- None.

Game Two

Independence........ 001 71x x -- 9 12 x

Fort Scott......... 000 000 x -- 0 1 2

WP -- Simons (2-12). LP -- n/a.

HR -- None.